#Party Bus to Jones Beach | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

layanasstories · 2 years

Text

If not in this life time...

----

Come away with me in the night, come away with me and I will write you a song. Come away with me on a bus, come away where they can't tempt us with their lies.

And I want to walk with you on a cloudy day, in fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high. So won't you try to come.

Come away with me and we'll kiss on a mountaintop. Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you.

And I want to wake up with the rain falling on a tin roof, while I'm safe there in your arms.

So all I ask is for you to come away with me in the night, come away with me.

- Norah Jones

---

Part 10

It's been about three weeks since the wedding, three weeks since the car ride where I told the whole story of my past. And since then we were kind of inseparable. Yes, we had times when he or I needed some space, because it just got a little too much. We kept to the agreement, and it worked. We said it when we got a little too short of breath. Or if we needed each other more. We talked about everything. I feel happy, happy with what we have. We don't give it a name, although we live by all the standards of a relationship, so we might as well call it that. I don't really care, as long as it stays as it is now, I'm happy. Perhaps something could change over time. Like, that I can wake up every day next to him. But those are dreams for later, not for now. For now, I'm on the bed in the motel room we booked. It's Lilly's birthday and we're invited to celebrate with her and the group of friends. I've met everyone before when Thomas and Hannah moved. The only one I don't know yet is Richy. He always seems to be busy with his work, rather than with friends. I just don't understand why it bothers them so much. Maybe I'll find out this weekend. The party is tomorrow and we'll be here all weekend.

It does feel weird being here in this motel, in this town. The last time I was here was with my parents, if I don't count the moving day of course. Besides the fact that I find it a bit strange and uncomfortable, I am curious about what my parents liked about this town. When I was a kid I liked swimming in the lake the most. But now that I'm an adult, I'm curious if I can see what they saw. Maybe that makes me feel like they're closer to me than I've felt until now. "How come you're so lazy, shouldn't you unpack your bag?" I am startled out of thought when Jake walks into the room with a grin. "I've already done that, it was so much that I just had to lay down." I smile back "What are we going to do tonight? Do you have plans?" I ask because I have some ideas myself. "No not really" he replies. "Great, then let's have something to eat in the center and then see if a bar is open." I suggest. "Sure, I know a nice bar" he shrugs as if he doesn't care.

We had decided to eat our dinner at a restaurant near the marketplace. It was simple, but the food tasted good, extravagant is not necessary for both of us. After dinner we walked to the bar that Jake knows. It was a short walk to the outskirts of the town, through a alley. The entrance of the bar is half way up the alley. To my suprise it's a local pub, lots of regulars. The decor is somewhat old-fashioned dark, but with a modern touch. An older man is behind the bar, which I believe is the owner. Another guy our age, full of tattoo's and long hair, walks around serving the drinks with a tray in his hand. The moment we sit down at a table the guy with the tray comes our way. "Hey cutie what can I bring you? 'Sex on the beach'?" he does not wink at me but at Jake. "I would really like that and can I braid your hair afterwards?" Jake gives him a seductive air kiss. "You know nobody can touch my hair! Thanks for ruining my mood!" the guy gives Jake a sad look. At that moment, Jake stands up and pulls the man into a tight hug. "Hey Phil, how have you been?" Jake asks after they let go of each other. "Good. Haven't seen you in a long time" Phil looks my way with a amusing smile "Is she the reason? I thought we had something!". "Stop it dude! You know it can't work out between us. And yes, she is the reason indeed." Jake pauses briefly, "Phil, Layana. Layana, Phil". Phil holds out his hand and I do the same. "Hi Phil, nice to meet you" I say. "It sure is." he says as a way of greeting. "Well what can I bring you?" he continues. "A beer for me" Jake looks my way "For me too please." I answer Phil.

When Phil has walked back to the bar, I look at Jake waiting for an explanation of what just happened. "Phil and I go back a long time. You know I grew up here. Phil didn't join our class until third year of high school and we clicked right from the start. After I found my way into the computers, Phil saw an opportunity to work for Michael with the hopes of taking over the bar someday. He did that a few years ago, and Michael works for him now in the weekends. Actually he already is retired but he loves his bar." I see a big smile forming around his mouth. "Good memories?" I ask him with a smile. "Yeah, those were good times.". Through the memories we get into a conversation, about his time here in this town. About all the pranks they'd both pulled, that they've always been there for each other, to this day. But because they have both gone in different directions in life, they don't see each other that often anymore.

At midnight we decide to end the evening and make our way back. With his arm around my shoulders and my arm around his waist, we walk to the motel. Along the way, an idea suddenly occurs to me. "Jake?" I ask to get his attention. "Yes?" he answers me without letting go or looking my way. "Well, what do you think about travelling?" I ask my question quickly because I don't want to change my mind. "Depends on where and what we're going to do." he casually gives his opinion "I don't like baking on the beach or by the pool. Yes swimming is nice, but I don't like wasting my time hanging out all day.". "That's good, because that was far from what I had in mind." I gently squeeze his side. "Okay, what did you have in mind?" he sounds a little more cheerful, as if his curiosity has been aroused. "I want to go to Varanasi, in India." I let out a sigh "I don't like the trips to islands where there is a party every night and day. I do like a party from time to time. But for big trips, I want to see the world, I want to get to know cultures. And I think India is a good start." I explain to him. He is silent for a while, then clears his throat. "Of all the places you can think of, I didn't see this one coming. But India seems very beautiful indeed." he pulls me even closer to him "So, maybe you should start making a plan."

#duskwood #duskwood everbyte #duskwood jake #duskwood game #duskwood mc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood jake x player #iamjake #duskwood fanfiction

12 notes · View notes

jooliefiveash · 4 years

Text

So I made these recommended reading lists for a final this term and thought I’d share them!

Image text:

Native lit for Adults:

Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko

There, There by Tommy Orange

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

The Beadworkers by Beth Piatote

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience by Helen Knott

Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot

Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson

The Only Good Indian by Stephen Graham Jones

YA Native Lit:

Standing Strong by Gary Robinson

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States For Young People, by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz, adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson

The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Children’s Book Native lit:

Birdsong by Julie Flett

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Tradition by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez

The Forever Sky by Thomas Peacock and Annette S. Lee

Nimoshom and his Bus by Penny M. Thomas and Karen Hibbard

Fall in Line, Holden! By Daniel W. Vandever

Native Comics and Graphic Novels:

Prism Stalker vol 1 by Sloane Leong

Moonshot vol 1-3 edited by Hope Nicholson

Golden Kamuy series by Satoru Noda

Deer Woman: An Anthology edited by Elizabeth Lapensée

Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection edited by Matt Dembicki

Native films:

Reel Injun (2009)

The Lesser Blessed (2012)

Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001)

The Rider (2017)

Mekko (2015)

Native music:

Navajo Country Music by Dirt Rhodes

Wovoka by Redbone

At the Party With My Brown Friends by Black Belt Eagle Scout

A Tribe Called Red by A Tribe Called Red

Baby Blue by Mourning Coup

#indigenous #native lit #indigenous books #joolieart

5K notes · View notes

kazoo5480 · 3 years

Link

This was totally inspired by @itsfabianadocarmo and her wonderful collages on Tumblr :) xo

Collage credit to @itsfabianadocarmo

Chapter 1 on AO3

The sun was hot on Emma's skin, she smelled the salty breeze of the waves crashing, the hot sun on her skin, the banana boat oil she was covered in, “Brandy” blaring out of Ruby’s radio sitting at the edge of her blanket. "Man, I can only imagine what Graham would be like between the sheets" Ruby purred as she peered over her white sunglasses at the guys in the water. Emma rolled her eyes, "Dude, just don’t check out my brother please for the love of god Rubes", Emma said exasperated.

"Hmm, Dave isn’t too bad either, rawrrr" she giggled. Emma sat up, "gross Ruby". She shielded her eyes from the sun, looking to the water watching her brother as he paddled back out in the cove, small waves rolling in. "You wanna go in Rubes? I'm boiling out here.” "Sure, boards, or no?" " Sure," Emma said and stood up, bending down to grab her board off the sand beside her.

"Well, that is quite a sight to behold" a lilting Irish voice said behind her. Emma rolled her eyes, ignoring that voice, it belonged to one of her brothers’ friends, Killian Jones. Irish bastard Emma thought to herself as she rolled her eyes, secretly pleased he was ogling her, but wouldn’t dignify his comment with a retort other than a middle finger. He chuckled as she waved it behind her not even looking his way. Ruby stood up, adjusting her red string bikini, grabbing her board too.

The girls walked towards the water, the surf cooling their feet after the hot sand burned beneath their soles. Emma looked to Ruby, "Ready?" Ruby nodded, and they waded in and began paddling out.

Killian Jones was sitting on the sand, warming himself up. Man, Emma Nolan was the ultimate California girl he thought to himself. Her sun-bleached curls hanging low down her back, her skin golden and dark from the sun, freckles sprinkled across her skin. He was particularly fond of the freckles on the soft inner skin of the most spectacular rack he had ever seen. Emma was thin, and athletic, a great ass, and she was a great surfer. She had a smart mouth that never seized to amaze him.

Their verbal foreplay over the years only got better the older they got. Dave Nolan had welcomed him pretty easily when his brother and him arrived to their neighborhood a few years back, the only warning was hands off his sister, and Killian respected that line his friend had drawn, hell if he had a sister that looked like Emma, he would probably say the same thing. The problem was, the more time that passed, the harder Killian was falling for her.

He sat a few more minutes, until he grabbed his board and headed out into the water to finish up their day. He sat atop his board in the shallows, waiting and watching, Jeff caught a decent wave, Dave and Graham waiting out for the bigger ones. Emma was atop her board beside her brother talking about something, while Graham was no doubt flirting with Ruby, leaning in towards the brunette laughing and smiling at her.

Killian felt a pang of jealousy, he had never had an issue finding a lass for an evening, but not the one he wanted. Too bad it would never happen, he looked over at him catching Emma's sparkling green eyes roving over him. His ears felt hot, she was staring at him trying terribly to hide it, but he had just caught her giving him a look he had only fantasized about a thousand times, and then she looked away, acting like it never happened.

Shit, he totally caught her looking, flushing red Emma spun her board and began paddling away from the group to sit in the lull. Emma tried her hardest never to appear interested or overly friendly towards Killian, she loved her brother but some of his stories about the brothers Jones and their way with the ladies hit a little too close to home for her and getting her heart broken was not something she wanted to experience.

Emma's deepest secret was that she had pined after Killian for three years, three long years. He only got hotter, and it never fucking helped. Aside from some flirtations, and a few drunken close encounters, he had never actually crossed a line. He was 19, she was 17, not too much of an age difference and she was just a few months shy of 18, but obviously he didn't see her as anything except his friend’s little sister.

Dammit, she said shaking herself out of it, focusing on the caps headed her way, she saw a wave rolling in, she got ready, "catch it Em" Dave yelled through his cupped hands. She nodded at him charging forward toward it and quickly stood up, she felt the familiar tilt in her balance. She spread out, and felt her board take off. She kept herself steady, railing the shoulder and locked in, riding it out with a giant smile on her face.

Killian duckdove and paddled towards the break to join the group. Emma was sitting atop her board facing them in the shallows, a smile on her face, and David clapped and hollered at his sister. She just waved her hand and called out pointing "party", the group spun and started charging hard, it was going to a fun one Killian thought. He could hear Ruby laughing as she got in position, "party time boys", and winked at him smiling. They were off, Ruby went first, followed by Graham and David, when they all rode it out Killian was the last to return to the shallows. "That was bitchin" Ruby said, Emma laughed and nodded.

Emma’s skin was wet and glistening in the sunlight, her yellow bikini practically see through, her nipples were puckered, and Killian could easily see those freckles on her breasts that drove him mad. Killian felt the blood rush to his groin and quickly spun his board heading back out, and away from the purest form of temptation. He caught a few more waves, and kept going until his muscles began protesting.

The group had reconvened on the beach on their blankets, and he made his way over to them. "Catch Jones", Emma called, and a sandwich hit him square in the chest. " Thanks Swan" and he winked at Emma. He had begun calling her that a few summers back, her long graceful neck reminded him of a swan and after a night of drinking he told her just that and she let it slide.

He sat beside Dave and tucked into the lunch the Nolan’s mom had sent for them. Dave and Emma had a great mom, Ruth Nolan was essentially the matriarch of their little rag tag group. Their mother, their rule enforcer, their caretaker. She watched over each of them, and as a single mom of two, she openly accepted each of them as if they were her own.

He watched Dave look at his watch, " It's 3 Em, work in an hour", she nodded and grabbed her bag. "Alright, catch you guys later" and she stood throwing her towel over her shoulder, not bothering to dress, and looked to Ruby. "I’ll catch a ride with Graham and Dave, head over around 8?" she said, and Emma nodded looking to Graham who also nodded at Emma.

Emma leaned forward and kissed Dave on the top of his head, he patted her hand. "Later". She bent again and grabbed her board, and Killian watched her head towards the lot where her sunshine yellow VW bus was parked, leaning her board against it. Killian made a snap decision, "hey I'm going to see if Em will drop me at the apartment before Liam gets off. Catch you guys later? I'll see if he wants to come." Dave nodded, "head over for dinner if you guys want, we won’t be here much longer", Killian nodded and grabbed his board hightailing it for the lot.

"Swan", came a shout. Emma looked up, "Hey" her heart fluttering in her chest. "Can you drop me on your way?" She nodded, "You working today? "Nah, I just want to try to catch Liam when he gets off, see if he wants to join us tonight", she nodded. "C'mon Jones, hop in" she said with a smile. Killian was assaulted with the scent of her in the small sun warmed space, she rolled down the window, and he followed suit.

The scent of her suntan oil, saltwater and sunshine was heaven. Her hair was like spun gold drying in wind swept ringlets, and his fingers itched to sink into it and pull her to him. Instead, he fiddled with the radio knobs until he found a station he liked.

Emma sang along with Don Mclean on the radio, sitting atop her beach towel in only her bikini still. Killian kept his eyes focused out the window until she pulled in front of his complex. He hopped out quickly, and slid the side door open to grab his board and towel, "see you later Swan?" "If you're lucky" she said. "Any time I'm graced with your presence, I'm lucky", and he instantly regretted the words that spilled out, unable to force them unspoken and back into his brain.

Her cheeks turned pink, the blush creeping down to her chest. "Maybe later?” and winked at him before she pulled away. He stood on the sidewalk awestruck, did she flirt back? Did that actually happen?

He watched her bus turn the corner, and shook his head, lost in thought up the three flights of steps to their flat. He hopped into the shower rinsing his suit off and hanging it up to dry on the towel bar and scrubbed down. Thoughts of Emma and her wet yellow bikini flooded his mind. Her laugh, the sparkle of her green eyes, the look she gave him earlier, watching her lean body out in the waves today, his cock was at full attention.

He took himself in hand, gripping hard, he imagined if he untied those thin straps of her swimsuit, her full tan breasts with rosy pink tips, he knew the outline of them to make this fantasy real enough, her scent still in his nose, he heard her sighs as he would kiss his way down her long slender neck, kissing over her collarbones, over each constellation of freckles he had begun identifying years ago, until he would suck each pink tip into his mouth.

Her fingers would slide into his hair, scraping his scalp, her small gasps escaping as he wound her up, he pumped himself harder, he imagined sliding her bottoms off and cupping her perfect ass in his hands pulling her against his hard cock, her tongue chasing his, and he felt his orgasm brewing like a storm. He pictured her dropping to her knees, and slipping those beautiful pink lips over his cock, taking him fall the way in to her throat, he gasped, his breath quickening, he could almost feel her small hands sliding over his cock as she pumped his licking over his slit, he pumped himself furiously, he felt a rush as he kept going, pushing through his orgasm, his seed shooting hard ropes against the cool tile he was braced against breathing heavily.

His forehead tipped forward and he leaned there, the hot water now running cool down his back. Fuck he said harshly, his blood humming, what the fuck was he going to do? He was so screwed. She had said maybe later, like a question. Did she want him to make a move on her? What the hell would Dave do if he did?

Emma was old enough, and he had seen her with a few guys over the last few years. But could it be possible she wanted him just as much as he wanted her? He barely registered getting dressed when he heard Liam walked in and came out of his room to see his brother collapsed on the couch.

“Rough day?” Killian asked his brother. “Long day, but possibly good? I don’t even know if that makes any sense little brother” and he mumbled into the pillow on their small couch. “Want a beer?” Killian offered, his brother just nodded, and Killian went to fetch one. “The Nolan’s invited us for dinner, you wanna come?” Liam nodded yes into the pillows where he remained face down. Killian just laughed sinking into a chair in the corner near their bookshelf.

“I need a shower Liam said, and got up, taking his beer with him into the bathroom, and started the shower. “The water is cold” he shouted, and Killian laughed. “It wasn’t very warm for me either” he said loudly, lying, and grateful his brother couldn’t see the shade of pink that his face was now covered in. Liam strode out a few moments later and pointed at him. “Is the bill paid?” “Aye” but we share a tank with the lads across the hall, so my guess is that we just weren’t fast enough to catch it”, Liam shook his head and said nothing.

Killian let Liam dress, and grabbed his skateboard. Liam grabbed his, and the two of them skated the few blocks over to the Nolan’s house, entering through the small garden gate. They shared a truck of their own, mainly for Liam to get to work down at the harbor, but it was just more enjoyable to ride their boards towards the Nolan’s.

David and Rob were sitting on the porch swing, robs girlfriend Regina sitting in a rocking chair leafing through a magazine. “Hey guys” she said sweetly. Regina was a year or two older than them and worked for a small local magazine as a writer, but her and Robin had been together since high school. She was a genuinely nice person, Rob worked a few odd jobs around town, lifeguard at the beach, swim coach at the YMCA, and was a hell of a surfer.

“You missed a party today Rob” Killian said, and Robin frowned, “Damn, who led?” he asked. “Ruby surprisingly. She is getting pretty good thanks to Hunt” and Dave barked out a laugh shaking his head.

Regina laughed too, “I was wondering when he would make his move on her, it took him long enough” she said. Killian smiled, they all knew the two of them were never as sneaky as they thought they were, but Ruby was happy and Graham was in love with her for years, so he was just happy it worked out.

“Gina, is Mary Margaret coming?” Dave asked. “Her and Emma are both working tonight, their shift ends at 9 I think”, still leafing through the magazine. “Here” she tossed the magazine into Robs lap, that was the competition I was talking about”. Robin leaned forward, reading it quickly, Killian and Liam looked at Dave who shrugged.

“Surfing competition is coming to the cove in two weeks, we should enter” Rob said. Groans from each of them spilled out. “What? We all love doing it, why not try to make some cash from it for once?” he said.

“If everyone agrees, and that’s Emma and Ruby included, I am in” Dave said. Killian nodded in agreement. “If Emma and Ruby agree to what?” came a voice from the screen door.

Ruth Nolan stepped out onto her porch; Dave immediately got up offering his mom his seat on the swing. She patted his cheek lovingly and did the same to each of them before taking her seat. “Liam you look too thin, I need to feed you better”, he rolled his eyes at her “Ruth I am a man, I feed myself just fine”, but smiled. “I’ll be the judge of that” she said with a warm smile.

“So, what will Emma and Ruby be agreeing to?” their matriarch asked. Regina piped in, “there’s a surfing competition, I think they should enter as a team, I think they could win it if they wanted to”. Ruth nodded, “wont they need a sponsor?” she asked.

“I might be able to get the magazine to sponsor but hitting up some of the surf shops would be a good place to ask around too” Regina said. Ruth looked at Dave, “If I had the money to spare, I would offer honey, but this one you’ll have to handle on your own”. Dave smiled, “no worries Ma, if they want to do it, we will figure it out together” and Ruth nodded.

“Speaking of which, Em still at work?” Ruth asked. “Til 9 I think” Regina said, my sister mentioned that her and Emma were working together tonight. Ruth nodded again. “Well let’s eat, I am famished, already set Emma’s aside so let’s go dig in, and all her little ducklings as she fondly referred to them as followed her into the house setting about in their tasks of setting the table, getting glasses, cutlery, napkins, and seated themselves in a circle as best as they could in the small room.

A few blocks over Emma was seated on a stool at the counter at Rae’s, a small local diner. Mary Margaret, one of her best friends was behind the counter making up a milkshake, which she poured and delivered, giving Emma the remains in the steel cup with a straw. Emma sucked it down, thinking about Killian. Why did he say that to her, why did she respond, and wink? Christ, she was an idiot.

“Penny for your thoughts Em?” the brunette asked sweetly. Emma eyed her, Mary Margaret knew Emma’s secret love for the Irishman, and she never blabbed about it.

“I drove him home and he said something today, and it confused me, and I flirted back and it made it even more confusing M”. “Honey, he has been in love with you for years, I noticed ages ago, but neither of you actually ever act on it, so I doubt that it complicated anything” she smiled at Emma.

Emma sucked the remains of the shake out of the cup sliding it back to her friend who dumped it in the bin below the counter. “What’s the plan after work?” she asked. “I think Ruby is heading up here in a bit, then we will go out, wanna come?” Mary Margaret flushed, “ok” was all she said.

“Its fine M, I know you like him, and he likes you, its fine, even though its my brother, its fine” and assessed her friend. Mary Margaret flushed, and just shook her head, “well we shall see, but I am not putting hope into anything”. Emma just nodded.

The bell over the door rang, and the two women looked to the door. Ruby walked in, Graham in tow and they waved setting up next to Emma at the counter. “You guys done already?” she asked Emma. “Nah, just my break”. Ruby nodded, “Well I am starving” she said, and Emma notices a very defined hickey on her neck near her collarbone.

Emma stood up and leaned into her ear, “it appears I know why Ruby Lucas”, and Ruby gave her a wolfish grin and winked at her with eyes sparkling. Graham groaned “Just leave it be Em, alright?”

“Sure, Hunt just don’t hurt her, or M will be calling me to help her hide a body” she said with a little snark. He barked out a laugh, “that’s what is the scariest part, she is the most lethal of you three” and they all laughed.

Dave got a call from Will who decided that he was throwing a party at his little beach shack, so they ate quickly and cleaned up dinner. Dave made his way to Emma’s room and grabbed a bag of clothes she had packed up off her bed.

“Ma, we are heading out to Wills”, Ruth nodded as she did her crossword puzzle, “Don’t” “forget to take Emma’s bag, I know I got it” and he raised it in his arm as proof. She nodded, “all of you be careful” and waved them out the front door.

Killian offered to head to Rae’s with Dave to pick Swan and Mary Margaret up, the rest of them headed towards Wills in Regina’s car. When Dave parked in an open spot, a flash of blonde hair whipped into view, balancing a tray on her arm as she roller skated towards a car parked a few over.

Killian took in her work uniform, Knee high socks, roller skates, long lean legs in short white cut off denim shorts, and a red tee shirt. Her hair was back in a ponytail and high on her head, the curls long and cascading down her back.

David headed towards the front door of the diner, and Killian caught Emma’s eye nodding in greeting. She shot him a huge smile, and then he watched her lean forward onto the patrons car. She was flirting with the guy driving, and for some reason it bothered him. She twirled her ponytail as he watched her blow a gum bubble listening and smiling at the driver.

By the time Killian entered in, and sat down next to Dave and Ruby, Mary Margaret had appeared with a strawberry milkshake for Ruby, and a vanilla one for Dave. “Oi, what am I? Chopped liver?” he asked in jest.

Mary Margaret slid a metal cup towards him with a children’s curly straw, “a manly milkshake for a manly man” she joked back. He nodded, “this is more like it” as he began drinking the chocolate shake.

He had one eye on the door, waiting to see Emma, but she hadn’t come in yet. “She does it for the tips you know", Mary Margaret said slyly. He caught her eyes, “I don’t know what you mean” he stuttered.

“Sure, you don’t Jones, maybe you should make a move and see” M winked at him, making a hasty exit.

Feel free to be added or ask to be removed, share or whatnot. Just tagging those I hope might like it! @itsfabianadocarmo @onceuponatime @thesschesthair @the-captains-ayebrows @the-lady-of-misthaven @wefoundloveunderthelight @timeless-love-story @xhookswenchx @purplehawkcaptain @kymbersmith-90 @kmomof4 @killiansprincss @captainswanouat @captainswoon @captain-swan-coffee @killianslefthook @timeless-love-story @tnlph @wefoundloveunderthelight @hollyethecurious @donteattheappleshook @hollyethecurious @elizabeethan

#itsfabianadocarmo #emma nolan #emma swan #killian jones #david nolan #mary margaret blanchard #ruby lucas #once upon a time

18 notes · View notes

snoopysfriendwoodstock · 4 years

Text

book recs based off of taylor swift songs!

so, we all want taylor to share her reading recs with us but she still hasn’t! so instead, here are book recommendations based on taylor swift songs! these recommendations are based on both the content of the songs, the vibe of the songs, and the themes present!

goodreads pages for each book are linked for more about them!

A Place in this World - coming of age novels

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (YA novel told in verse)

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (classic)

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi (YA realistic fiction)

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (YA realistic fiction / tw: conversion therapy, religious abuse, homophobia)

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (children’s/middle grade poetry)

The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf by Mohja Kahf (adult realistic fiction / tw: islamophobia, racist hate crime)

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (classic)

there are a lot here, so the rest are under a read more!

ME! - memoirs and autobiographies that are one of a kind

Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden (tw: substance abuse)

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (tw: abuse)

Little Weirds by Jenny Slate

Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer by Chely Wright

Know My Name by Chanel Miller (tw: sexual assault)

Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber

My Soul Looks Back by Jessica B. Harris

The Lucky One - novels about the perils of fame

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Tara Jenkins Reid (adult historical fiction)

Daisy Jones and the Six by Tara Jenkins Reid (adult historical fiction / tw: substance abuse)

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert (adult historical fiction)

Fame Adjacent by Sarah Skilton (adult contemporary)

Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon (nonfiction/memoir)

Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills (YA romance)

Fake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon (YA mystery)

It’s Nice to Have a Friend - novels about perceived friends with who turn out to be lovers OR who spend the novel with homoerotic tension

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (YA historical fiction)

Emma by Jane Austen (classic)

Dare Me by Megan Abbott (YA/adult thriller)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (YA realistic fiction)

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden (YA romance)

Only The Young - novels about young people making major change/experiencing societal upheaval

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (YA realistic fiction / tw: police brutality, murder, racism)

Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine (middle grade/YA historical fiction)

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (middle grade historical fiction/fantasy / tw: police brutality against a black child, depiction of emmett till)

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith (YA dystopian)

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (YA dystopian / tw: depiction of genocide against native americans)

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (YA science fiction)

The Best Day - songs about mother/daughter relationships (both meaningful and difficult)

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel (adult graphic novel)

Restless by William Boyd (adult spy novel)

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (adult realistic fiction)

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick (middle grade contemporary)

Love Story - a reimagining of a classic story

Pride by Ibi Zoboi (YA contemporary / reimagining of Pride and Prejudice)

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (YA science fiction / reimagining of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White)

Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalauddin (adult contemporary / reimagining of Pride and Prejudice)

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (adult contemporary / reimagining of Antigone, tw: islamophobia, depiction of torture)

You Need to Calm Down - these are just a variety of books strictly abt LGBT characters not just a gay side character <3

Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins (YA romance)

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (YA romance)

Charity & Sylvia by Rachel Hope Cleves (nonfiction)

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater (YA nonfiction / tw: transphobia, transphobic hate crime, misgendering)

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren (YA contemporary)

Treacherous - a love that teeters between labels for too long as neither can resist the pull of the other

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken (YA science fiction)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (classic)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (classic)

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi (YA romance)

Don’t Blame Me - an all-encompassing, maddening love

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (classic)

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (classic)

The Way I Loved You - love stories about people who are always attracted to the more dangerous option, even when they’re safe where they are

Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee (YA romance)

Playing With Matches by Hannah Orenstein (adult romance)

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (YA romance)

Heartless by Marissa Meyer (YA fantasy / retelling of Alice in Wonderland from the Queen of Heart’s perspective)

The Awakening by Kate Chopin (classic)

Speak Now - weddings/wedding related activities gone wrong!

Save the Date by Morgan Matson (YA romance)

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (adult romance)

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (adult thriller)

Look What You Made Me Do - women getting their revenge, whether it’s justified or not

Sadie by Courtney Summers (YA thriller / tw: physical and sexual abuse, pedophilia, murder, substance abuse)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (adult thriller / tw: sexual/physical abuse, murder, suicide mentions)

Find Her by Lisa Gardner (adult thriller / tw: physical abuse, kidnapping, rape, murder, graphic depictions of violence)

I’m Only Me When I’m With You - books with a strong focus on platonic relationships, how they grow and change

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (classic)

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (adult thriller / tw: physical abuse)

This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki (YA graphic novel)

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson (YA mystery)

Sula by Toni Morrison (classic / tw: racism, rape mention, physical abuse, sexism)

A Separate Peace by John Knowles (classic)

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (adult contemporary / tw: racism)

Haunted - novels about feelings of loss combined with supernatural elements

Beloved by Toni Morrison (classic / tw: depictions of slavery, rape, sexual abuse, physical assault, racism, racist language)

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult (adult mystery)

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand (YA fantasy/horror)

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (middle grade fantasy illustrated novel)

You Belong With Me - young adult novels with a LOT of pining

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (YA romance)

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson (YA romance)

First & Then by Emma Mills (YA romance)

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (YA romance)

Begin Again - novels about people getting another chance at love

Beach Read by Emily Henry (adult romance)

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (adult romance)

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson (YA romance)

Persuasion by Jane Austen (classic)

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver (adult romance)

Enchanted - love at first sight OR meet cutes!

Meet Cute by Various Authors (collection of YA short stories)

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith (YA romance)

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson (YA romance)

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera (YA romance)

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (YA romance)

Lovely War by Julie Berry (YA historical fiction / tw: racism)

Long Live - fighting monsters, both literal and figurative

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (YA fantasy / tw: sexual abuse)

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney (YA fantasy / reimagining of Alice in Wonderland)

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner (adult thriller / tw: sexual abuse, physical abuse, rape, murder, kidnapping)

#taylor swift #thank yew and goodnight taylor you can still share your reading recs with us tho please <3

231 notes · View notes

kaileeandag · 3 years

Text

Items in Luna’s Collection

-Meet Outfit (pink JoJo Siwa t-shirt, blue jeans, and pink high-top JoJo Siwa sneakers) -Meet Accessories (asthma inhaler, face mask, rainbow JoJo Siwa hairbow, sakura flower necklace, and Pikachu plush toy)

School Collection: -Luna’s School Supplies (pink JoJo Siwa backpack with these items: JoJo Siwa pencil case and four pencils, 4th grade social studies textbook, FiveStar brand red notebook, FiveStar brand black notebook, and eraser) -Luna’s Lunchbox (pink JoJo Siwa lunchbox with these pretend food items: cheese and pepperoni wrap, multi-color Goldfish crackers, white flesh peach, and pouch of grape flavored Kool-Aid Jammer juice)

Holiday Collection: -Pokemon Shield game (case only, comes with screenshots from the game) -Luna’s Christmas Stocking (pink JoJo Siwa stocking containing these items: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus book, pretend Hershey bar, Pokemon Scorbunny plush toy, and JoJo Siwa slipper socks) -Luna’s Teal and Lavender Caboodle (contains a ‘daughter’ key heart necklace from Claire’s)

Birthday Collection: -Luna’s Birthday Party Supplies (JoJo Siwa table cover, banner reading ‘Happy 10th Birthday Luna!’, four JoJo Siwa balloons, and pink streamer) -Luna’s Birthday Cake (gold flavored cake with vanilla frosting, ‘10′ candle, and JoJo Siwa picture reading ‘Happy Birthday Luna!’ -Luna’s Pizza Birthday Lunch (comes with these pretend food items: large cheese pizza from local pizza restaurant House of Pizza, bottle of Berry Burst Fruit Shoot juice, and pretend cup of Diet Pepsi) -Luna’s Cat Kuromi (black cat, comes with a paw print animal bed. Named after the Sanrio character)

Summer Collection: -Luna’s JoJo Siwa bathing suit -Luna’s Beach Day Set (comes with these items: blue bucket and shovel, JoJo Siwa beach towel, red beach chair, and green beach umbrella) -Luna’s Beach Lunch (chicken nugget and fries box from Forbe’s, a restaurant on the beach, a bottle of Aquafina water, and bag of red and green grapes) (food items are pretend)

Winter Collection: -Luna’s Coat, Hat, and Mittens (navy blue puffy coat with pink hat and mittens) -Pokemon Shield DLC screenshots (screenshots from the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLCs) -Luna’s Day In The House Set (comes with these items: cup of hot cocoa and marshmallows, pretend bowl of popcorn with nacho cheese powder, cup of water, JoJo Siwa sleeping bag, and Moana DVD) (food items are pretend, the DVD is case only and comes with screenshots from the movie)

Bedroom Collection: -Luna’s Bed and Bedding (pink JoJo Siwa twin bedding) -Luna’s Nintendo Switch console with charger and games (non-functional, comes with screenshots from Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee! and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) -Luna’s JoJo Siwa Lamp (non-functioning) -Luna’s Blue Bean Bag Chair

Japan 2019 Vacation Clothes: -Luna’s Japanese School Uniform and Uwabiki Shoes (doll size Japanese sailor uniform and uwabiki indoor shoes) -Luna’s Japanese Elementary School Swimsuit (navy blue swimsuit like the one Japanese grade schoolers wear)

Japan 2019 Vacation Accessories: -Luna’s Red Randoseru Backpack (randoseru is a backpack that many elementary schoolers in Japan use) -Luna’s Japanese Magazine Bundle (comes with doll size version of these magazines, all August 2019 issue: Nicola, Seventeen Japan, Popteen, S Cawaii!, Non-No, and Koakuma Ageha) -Luna’s Starbucks Japan Peach On The Beach Frappuccino (pretend Frappuccino) -Luna’s McDonald’s Japan Meal (food items are pretend: Ebi Filet-O burger, Cheese Loco Moco Burger with Spicy Hot Chili dusted fries, medium Fanta melon soda, Shaka Shaka chicken patty with cheese dusting, Blue Hawaii McFizz) (the Ebi Filet-O is a burger made of a coating and small whole shrimp, while the Cheese Loco Moco burger has BBQ sauce and an egg. The McFizz flavor is Sprite and a syrup that is like fruit punch) -AKB48 CD Collection (plays 30 second clips of these songs: Oshiete Mommy, Flying Get, Ice no Kuchizuke, and Heavy Rotation) -Luna’s Hug PreCure Precure Macherie doll -Luna’s Licca-chan Doll Haul (comes with Licca-chan in Wonderland doll and these outfits: doctor and nurse and Cute Seifuku) -Luna’s Japanese Bento Box (Sumikko Gurashi bento box with matching bag and chopsticks, filled with these pretend food items: rice with seaweed and egg seasoning, Tamagoyaki Japanese rolled omelet, panda shaped rice balls, and bear shaped fried eggs) -Luna’s Pokemon Cafe Food Set (comes with these pretend food dishes: Umbreon’s Fried Chicken Burger, Pikachu and Various Fruits Pudding a la Mode, and Eevee Sweet Chocolate Parfait. Comes with a Pokemon Cafe tote bag) -Luna’s 7-11 Japan Haul (comes with these pretend food items: Haagen Dazs mini cup of Hojicha Latte ice cream, Pizza Bun, Mentaiko onigiri, Strawberry Whipped Cream sandwich, and Blueberry & Cream Cheese sandwich) -Luna’s Karaage-kun Fried Chicken Pieces Set (comes with containers these flavors of pretend Karaage-kun fried chicken: regular, cheese, and Babystar Ramen coated) -Luna’s Japanese Pizza Dinner Set (comes with these pretend pizzas and other food items: large size Domino’s corn pizza, medium Domino’s baked potato and sausage pizza, large order of oven baked potato wedges with ketchup, and bottle of Qoo Mikan drink)

#american girl #american girl doll #American Girl dolls #american girl oc #american girl fan character

2 notes · View notes

rigginsstreet · 4 years

Text

JULIA’S FICS MASTERLIST

so it’s my wifes ( @fredheads ) birthday and im a flop who doesnt have her birthday fic ready (it’ll be done... before the end of the month. absolutely should not take that long but thats the only definite timeline i have lmao) SO to celebrate, i think you all should read her fics and leave nice comments because it’s what she deserves :)

MULTI CHAPTER (unfinished)

She's The One (fem!fredsythe)

Just Like Heaven (fredsythe, alice - fred escapes the Sisters au)

talk about a dream, try to make it real (fredsythe, gladys - college au)

quiet mercy (fredsythe - the OG fred & the sisters of quiet mercy fic)

Papa (fred and artie exploration)

wanna be your backdoor man (fredsythe - h*rny neighbor antics)

With a Girl Like You (fred and gladys friendship)

all our costliest treasures (baby fredsythe at christmas julia i would like to see more... its your birthday i should not be requesting things my apologies)

but your kids are gonna love it (archie and jughead - back to the future au i never saw that movie so i cant say for sure but they do time travel so that checks out to me)

Riverdale High's Last Annual Father-Daughter Winter Fling (fred takes veronica to the father/daughter dance because hiram is in jail =/ )

i say the phrases that keep it all going (different takes of fred fp archie and jughead dying in each others arms julia where is the fredsythe one... just asking)

MULTI CHAPTER (finished [according to ao3])

wouldn't it be good (ensemble - everyones paired up and has to raise an egg)

love is like a heat wave (fredsythe summertime antics)

burnt toffee (halice - working at an icecream shop, falling in love, v cute)

if only in my dreams (penelope lies about having a boyfriend)

let nothing you dismay (alice cooper fixing christmas)

there's a blue light in my best friend's room (hal and fred bonding hour)

The Trials of Cheerleading (or, "Throwing In The Megaphone") (the parentdale bible just read it and forget anything else anyone [ras] has ever told you)

fred andrews adopts a gang (bet you cant tell what this is about)

from the rich to the poor they are mostly unkind (i think this is a sweet pea centric fic?? julia really has something for everyone but dont expect her to do this again)

fp's adventures in domesticity (fp taking care of the andrews household while fred recovers from getting blasted in the chest)

Oblivion (all the times fred has experienced god)

west of memphis (jarchie post 107 thats all i can tell you idk)

ONE SHOT

Wherever you go i'll be with you (fp and archie - a timeline after freds death)

that's as close as i'll get to loving you (fremary - fred asks mary out)

i'm only good at being bad, bad (gladys hating her deadbeat husband <3)

and all the miles in between (fp and tom on the bus to basic training)

excerpts from the same party (freds interactions...at a party... the title is pretty self explanatory but who doesnt love a party fic ammirite ladiez)

don't you know these days you pay for everything (fred, fp, mary - i remember this being fp playing wingman to get fred and mary together cuz he likes mary better than hermione.... read more to find out if im right)

tying faith between our teeth (fredsythe - au where fp goes to college and doesnt ruin his life)

and they were roommates (fredsythe - another college au)

The Construction Tree (jarchie - idk what this is about i dont read kid fics im sorry... but julias a bomb ass writer so im sure the jarchies will love it anyway)

flowers grow through cement (fred gaining weight and feeling insecure)

night creatures call and the dead start to walk in their masquerade (HALLOWEEN FREDSYTHE BABYYYY!)

get me a prescription for that one perfect touch (fredsythe sick fic)

i don't know where else i can go (more hal and fred bonding hour)

everybody's got a hungry heart (fredsythe sexy time with food... that sounds weird.... listen either youre into it or youre not)

not so typical love song (fp and mary bonding hour)

all the redemption i can offer (fremary after the shooting... im pretty sure... listen i have a bad brain i cant remember things just read it)

Simply Irresistible (fred is a ho)

took the words (right out of my mouth) (four times fred and fp say ‘i love you’)

if you wanna get it done you gotta do it yourself (fp and mary loving fred... who is a ho)

people livin' in competition (more fp/fred/mary nonsense with fp gay pining what a good triangle i would have liked to seen it...)

buy me a ticket on the last train home tonight (mary works at youth crisis hotline and fred calls in)

that's what they say when we're together (halram post high school au)

a good old fashioned romance (hiram flaunting his wealth instead of displaying emotions)

you don't know what (you) got (fred has great friends even though hes a bit of a putz)

watch your weight (more fredsythe food shenanigans)

Valuable Lessons Learned On The Tilt-A-Whirl, or "Babe, You Ought To Quit This Scene Too" (alice hermione fred and fp go to the fair)

what once was (jughead and the andrews after freds shooting)

you must remember this (i have no recollection of what this is about but it sounds jughead centric)

takes guts to be gentle and kind (idk what this is either lmfao but i know julia saved moose and midge in it... idk midge but good for her [granted this also takes place after 202 so keep that in mind])

FP Jones and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad House Party (or, "Nothing Good Ever Happens At One Of These") (oh i remember this one.... mmmm. title tells you all really)

and so please help them with your youth ( ‘fred teaches archie to walk. archie returns the favor’)

andrews & son (more fred and archie post 201)

Blueberry Pie (fredsythe - my review of this fic is just me clutching my chest saying ‘oh god, oh fuck’)

never drill for oil on a city street (part 1 of mary working at a youth crisis hotline and fred calling in and i should put this above the other fic but like... you can figure out one and two on your own i believe in you)

The Perils of Faking Illness (or, “two times Fred Andrews faked sick to get out of class and one time he actually needed a hospital”) (read the title)

healing, in three parts (fred fp archie and jughead attempt a roadtrip)

all along the watchtower (#fredandrewsisriverdale)

guess that we were too much of the same kind (fred getting visitors in the hospital)

sometimes wonder what's beneath the mess you've become (fred and alice bonding hour)

nice day for a white wedding (fredsythe hospital times babyyyy!)

The Unexpected Perks of Feminist Activism (or, "Fingertip Rules") (fred gets fucked in a skirt by fp thats all you need to know)

Any Way You Want It (reggie x moose idk what it is but if you like them here you go)

fun, fun, fun (till her daddy takes the t-bird away) (beach antics! freds a menace but fp loves him anyway...)

hands over the ears of my heart (fred and hermione share a bed but platonically)

the apocalypse comes sooner than you think (fredsythemione antics)

small as a world and large as alone (a series of drabbles about archie jughead and fred post 104)

do a good turn daily (archie x reggie post 103)

seven minutes in heaven (archie and reggie picked for 7 minutes in heaven)

tell me every terrible thing you ever did (archie drops jughead off after the pep rally)

#READ HER WORK!#riverdale fanfiction #idk why im bothering tagging this i doubt its gonna show up anywhere thanks to tumblrs rules but whatever

43 notes · View notes

gladyzwithaz · 4 years

Photo

Summer’s a wash...I’m ready for fall [fashion]

How I feel about Summer 2020, in 5 words: “What the fcuk was that?!”

I celebrated my dirty 30, in January...and I decided some time back around June that I’d be turning 30 again, next year, because again...WTF?!

I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to celebrate my birthday before Corona came to town, because I know others that have not been able to celebrate in the ways that they wanted. My friends surprised me with a party bus down to the boardwalk to enjoy some seafood; the restaurant was AMAZING. Since then not only has Corona brought just about everything to a screeching halt, but that restaurant has also flooded during a storm, a couple months ago.

It doesn’t take much for me to count my blessings these days. This summer may not have turned out how I planned and I may not be able to do anything that I WANT to do, but I have everything that I NEED. This summer has been one for the books to say the least, but I am grateful simply to be able to have experienced it. Things could be better, but things could also be a lot worse; “all of my good days outweigh my bad days; I won’t complain.” [If you aren’t familiar with Rev. Paul Jones’ I Won’t Complain...do yourself a favor, get into it, and bless your life]

This summer has been survived in lounge wear, for the most part in my bed, I may occasionally travel to my desk or the couch; no sundress, so rompers, no sandals....no flights, no road trips, no beach days. I’ve been to the park twice...for lunch dates and even though we ate in our respective cars, they were still highlights of this summer. The first time was for my homegirl’s birthday, I had crab cakes on a bed of spicy dirty rice, topped with crawfish etoufee...have mercy. We found that restaurant as part of Houston’s Black Restaurant week and it was everything that we needed it to be. I look forward to going back and enjoying a couple cocktails at the bar, because their drink menu was popping as well. The 2nd time was to see a homegirl that came into to town, for the week, celebrating her birthday. We ate a little bit of something from everywhere that day: brisket tamales, chicken alfredo fries, and boudin eggrolls. Again...have mercy. I haven’t been out to eat much, but I have made sure that the times I did risk my life were worth it.

I’m ready for the seasons to change, for multiple reasons... To know me is to know that fall/winter fashion has always been my favorite. I love hoodies and sweaters, hats and boots, the layering, the colors...just everything about it.

This edgy casual fall look, is an easy every day look, perfect for class, dinner with the friends, or a day of running errands. You can never go wrong with a graphic tee and camos. Check print is a trendy print for the upcoming seasons, and this is a blazer would make a great staple piece for your fall/winter wardrobe. These cutout croc combat boots are a great way to update a classic shoe, dress them up or down.

All in all, I’m ready for fall. Maybe cause I’m hoping that it will be closer to the end, or some breakthrough for this pandemic shit...maybe it’s because I’m ready for this election...it could also be because I’m ready for a cold front, because this heat is for the birds, but I’m definitely ready for fall fashion.

-gbj

t-shirt: sacai

shoes: amiri

handbag: karl lagergeld

glasses: oliver peoples

mask: grlfrnd

nail polish: o.p.i.

#womensstyle #womensfashion #streetwear #streetstyle #sacai #amiri #karl lagerfeld #oliver peoples #grlfrnd #opi nail polish #fall fashion #fall trends #fashion #style #outfit #outfitinspiration #styleinspiration #content creator

25 notes · View notes

traveland-peru · 4 years

Text

Traveling Through Peru

Peru is one of the most popular countries to travel around in South America for the great diversity and culture that Peru has as well as unforgettable destinations .

Travelers spend months backpacking Peru. People flock here to hike the Inca Trail and see Machu Picchu. Vacationers devour their way through the incredible food scene of Lima.

But, while those areas of the country get the most attention, the entire country is incredible and has a ton of things to see and do.

Come explore the jungles, see the Amazon, head to Lake Titicaca, or to the beaches in the north. Learn about the local indigenous culture, try the coca tea, and practice your Spanish. Eat your way through Lima!

There is a lot to do when you travel in Peru.

You can easily spend a month or more here!

Thankfully traveling around Peru is also very inexpensive. You don’t need a lot of money to visit here (even if you do the Inca trail). You get a lot of bang for your buck whether you backpack Peru or just come for a two-week trip!

Use this travel guide to plan your next trip to Peru and get the low down on what to do, my suggestions on where to stay, how to save money, and much more!

Other Things to See and Do in Peru

Hike the Inca Trail

Getting to Machu Picchu is best via the famed Inca Trail passing through different archaeological centers and the Inca quarry . This multi-day 26-mile (43 kilometers) hike allows you to see the mountains, jungles, and follow the route the Incas used to take. It is a truly spectacular hike, but it is certainly challenging and you may suffer from altitude sickness. There are two ways to do this hike: you can sign up to be part of an organized tour, or you can hire your own private guide. You cannot hike the trail independently. Tours start around 2,165 PEN ($650 USD) though you will want to spend money and invest in a reliable, reputable company. Recommended companies are listed at the end of the page.

Machu Picchu

Currently, this Inca jewel is one of the tourist centers of the country. Travelers come to Aguas Calientes to start the Inca route that Hiram Bingham, the Yale professor, popularized at the beginning of the 20th century. The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is considered one of the seven new wonders of the modern world and has been declared a World Heritage Site in 1983. Unmissable !!

Visit the Islas Flotantes de los Uros

The Floating Islands of the Uros may sound like an Indiana Jones title but it is actually the name of the group of handmade islands in Lake Titicaca. The Islands are home to the indigenous Uros people who have built their own houses, islands and boats from the tortora reeds which grow along the banks of the lake. This is an extremely touristy site and is a bit exploited as such, so it’s not for everyone.

Surf at Máncora Beach

Seafood, watersports, horse riding and relaxation are the order of the day at this popular beach resort. Máncora is one of the finest beaches in South America and its year-round sunshine and huge waves also make it Peru’s surfing Mecca. Prices here can be expensive December to March so it’s best to book in advance.

Step back through time at Batán Grande

Batán Grande is an archaeological site comprised of 50 pyramids and tombs, which are thought to date back to between 100-1000 AD. This site was once the Sicán capital and has had its fair share of impressive pre-Columbian artifacts recovered over the years – for example, a gold Tumi weighing almost seven pounds which was recovered from one of the royal tombs.

Discover Cuzco

This colonial city is a major tourist destination and sits on Inca-built stone foundations not far from Peru’s major attraction of Machu Picchu. The area is popular with trail walkers, history lovers, and party-goers who come to enjoy the city’s many colorful festivals. Cuzco is the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas and an essential part of your trip to Peru. Be sure to visit Coricancha and Sacsayhuaman during your visit. For great food, head to Green Point.

Get Your Amazon Fix in Iquitos

Accessible only by boat or plane, jungle-locked Iquitos is the largest city within the Peruvian rainforest. The city sits at the mouth of the Amazon and so is the perfect destination for fans of eco-tourism. The nearby Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is Peru’s largest Reverse and at two million hectares, it is home to a huge range of nearly 1000 birds, mammals, fish, and reptiles.

Sandboard in Huacachina

This little town is a desert oasis Huacachina and a welcome relief after hiking through Machu Picchu. It’s very affordable for travelers looking to relax and are running out of funds. Hostels offer great deals for sandboarding and sandbuggies around the dunes that surround this idyllic town. Sandboarding costs about 50 PEN ($15 USD) and you don´t have to book in advance. There is also a lagoon surrounded by palm trees here too. You can rent a rowboat to go around. A half-hour trip costs around 5 PEN ($1.50) per person.

See penguins in Paracas

Paracas is in the south of Peru and is sometimes called the “Poor Man’s Galapagos” for its impressive wildlife: thousands of birds, as well as large sea lion and penguin populations, live along the water. You can visit the Paracas National Reserve via an organized boat tour. Be sure to go early (around 8 am). A full day organized tour of Paracas includes a boat trip to the Islas Ballestas and a bus trip around the national reserve in the afternoon. It cost about 115 PEN ($34 USD).

Walk through the White City

Arequipa is a beautiful city with a historical center that was constructed primarily from volcanic ash from the nearby volcanoes. Come to visit the gorgeous Santa Catalina Monastery, see a frozen Inca mummy, or just to take in the city’s architecture over a glass of wine in the main square.

Hike in Huaraz

Not to be confused with Juarez in Mexico, Peru’s Huaraz is a great (and perfectly safe) destination for adventure-seekers. The mountains here are stunning, and there are fantastic multi-day trek options for those looking for some outdoor activity.

Go to El Parque de las Aguas

This park in downtown Lima has a beautiful water fountain and is open from 3-10:30 pm, Tuesday-Sunday. There’s an amazing light show at night too! It costs 4 PEN ($1.20 USD) to get into. You’ll find a lot of events hosted here and it’s a popular place with dog owners.

Visit Chachapoyas

This region lies in the Andean mountains and is home to the Chachapoya civilization that lived there between 500 and 1432. Today, you can visit Kuelap, the fortified city at known as “The Machu Picchu of the North”. Be sure to also visit Gocta, a beautiful waterfall that is one of the highest in the world. You can get there by taking a tour from Chachapoyas.

Visit Trujillo

Head to Trujillo, the second oldest Spanish city in Peru. While here, visit the archaeological site of Chan Chan, the world’s biggest adobe city ever built. It was built by the Chimu civilization that live before the Incas from 850 and 1534. Be sure to also visit Huanchaco, a small fishing town directly on the beach.

See Rainbow Mountain

Chances are you’ve seen these colorful mountains on social media. Over the past few years, Rainbow Mountain has become a huge tourist draw. Day trips and multi-day hikes are available from Cusco, usually starting around 135 PEN per person. There is also an “Alternative” Rainbow Mountain if you want to beat the crowds!

Hike the Salkantay

If you want an alternative to the busy Inca Trail, try hiking the Salkantay. It sees a fraction of the tourists and is half the price of the Inca Trail — but just as stunning! There aren’t as many ruins but there are epic mountain views and summits of up to 5,200m!

2 notes · View notes

acelimoliny · 2 years

Text

Book the Luxury Limousine for your Wedding Day in Long Island

Limo Rental service provided by Acelimoli is one of the best in the region as we own luxury, newly purchased and well maintained limousines from the reputable car makers and models. You can also book wedding transportation in long island. We have awesome collections of wedding limousine in long island.

We provide the most affordable limo rentals with greater comfort. The modish limos are also spacious making them very suitable for get-together parties, business trips or even family trips. Get in touch with us today for the best limousine deals. Their prices are the best in the city. Acelimoli finds the interest of its customers and provides them with suitable limo varieties. We do give suggestions that suit your needs and the decision is up to you to choose from our fleet. Visit us today for party bus rental in long island.

Whether you need just a simple transportation or a full day disposal, we can provide you with a luxury limousine or transformer limo for 6-17 passengers for partners, friends and family. With different and luxurious limos, you will always find one to carry all our luggage to or from the required destination at the right time. We also provide you a wide collection of Rolls Royce.

Hire them today and you will be amazed by the quality you will be offered. The prices may vary depending on your destination, the number of people in the limo and the luggage you are carrying. Despite these differences, you will always find it relatively cheaper and their prices are unbeatable in the city. Our experience will help you with anything you wish.

Give us a call

Call for an appointment to see any of our limousines

Office: 516-232-5556

Address

99 Wolcott Rd, Levittown, NY 11756, USA

You can also email us at

Email : [email protected]

Hours

Mon-Fri: 10am-9pm

Sat: 10am-3pm

Sun: 10am-3pm

#Bachelorette Party Bus long island #Best Limo Long Island #Best Limo Service Long Island #limo company long island #Long Island Limo Rental #Long Island Limo Service #Long Island Limousine Service #Long Island Party Bus #Long Island Prom Limo #Long Island Wedding Limousine #Party Bus Rental Long Island #Party Bus to Jones Beach #Prom Party Bus Long Island #Rolls Royce Rental Long Island #Wedding Limo LI #Wedding Limo Long Island #Wedding Limo Rental Long Island #Wedding Limousine Long Island #Wedding Transportation Long Island

0 notes

forasecondtherewedwon · 5 years

Note

Hi! First of all, I can’t believe Affinity War is over! It’s my fav! Do you think you’ll ever write oneshots or something in that universe? Second! Maybe 19 for the prompts? :)

You’re so sweet, @hauntedmoondust! Thank you very much!! One-shots beyond these prompts? Hmm I don’t know yet. We’ll see!

Really Old Movie NightPairing:Peter Parker x Michelle Jones (Spideychelle)Rating: TWord count: 2290

19. “There’s so much blood.”

Friendships are something that seem to just happen to Peter.Like, boom, Mr. Stark shows up in his living room one day to recruit him to agroup of professional best buddies (thinly veiled as the Avengers). Or, boom,he’s a kid at science and engineering camp using Lego to assemble a scale modelof the Brooklyn Bridge when his hands bump into this kid called Ned’s hands,‘cause he’s been building from the other end, and they meet in the middle, likeLady and the Tramp, and become bestfriends. Or, subtler boom, the judgemental smart girl who’s always giving himthe finger offers up a nickname she’d like for him to call her one day andthat’s how Peter finds out that MJ doesn’t actively want to push him in frontof a bus.

Even including the surprise mission to Germany, it’s thelast one that surprises Peter the most. But then she just keeps doing it. Atlunch, MJ quits lurking with her novels at the far end of the table and slidesdown to eat with him and Ned. Every. Single. Day. She jokes with Peter between classes,which makes him start taking the scenic route from Chemistry to Spanish to givehimself more time to see her smile. Without anyone really making a big dealabout it, MJ becomes part of Peter and Ned’s sacred ritual of Homework Night;when it devolves into Lego Night, he really has to watch to catch the momentswhere she can’t stop herself from rolling her eyes. Soon, it feels like thethree of them are as cohesive together as when it was just him and Ned. Makessense―triangles are the strongest shape.

So, with the closeness they’ve all developed, it’s rational thatMJ would still come over for movie night after Ned has to cancel. And thatPeter won’t need to check with his aunt for permission to have MJ in theapartment when he knows that May’s going out. Because it’s just MJ. MJ’s hisfriend, his second Ned, the person whose every appearance is the highlight ofhis day, the girl who makes his enhanced biology forget how to take in oxygento let him do the breathing thing. Respiration. Right. He knew the word.

Peter is feeling very calm about this. He could sync hispulse to a meditation track of soothing beach sounds (if the beach was in thewrath-of-god grip of a cyclone). What he definitely does not do is backflip to the door when she knocks. He hasrestraint―not that he needs it,because, again, MJ is nothing more than a benign, Ned-type person.

…Who smells really good when she enters and brushes by him.Ned usually smells like a combination of soap, Doritos, and metal from whateverthey’ve been covertly tinkering with in shop class.

“Come in,” Peter says, about twelve seconds too late. MJglances back at him with an expression that confirms he needs to pull himselftogether now.

“So, movie,” he tries again, swinging his arms as he leadsher to the fridge so she can select her soda of choice. He already has thesnacks arrayed on the coffee table in front of the couch. May has raised anattentive host.

“Movie,” MJ echoes. She lifts her eyebrows while taking asip of some bubbly pomegranate drink his aunt has possibly recently becomeaddicted to.

“Um, yeah, in here.”

Peter stares hard at the middle distance like a furiousShakespearean actor as he walks ahead of her to the couch; this is awkward. He’s awkward. No amount of junk foodcoated in assorted cheese powders is going to mask how severely he is failingat cultivating a regular buddy-buddy hang-out.

He halts abruptly, realizing he should let MJ pick where shewants to sit first, which just makes her run into him.

“Oh shit,” she gasps, eyes on the can in her hand, but shedoesn’t spill a drop.

Instead, the carbonation of the drink asserts its presencethrough a high-pitched hiccup that reminds Peter of Dopey swallowing the soapin Snow White. (Only May knows that’shis favourite Disney movie.) Instinctively, he goes to pat MJ on the back inorder to―man, he really doesn’t know―pop any potential bubbles still inside herbody? Anyway, his arm goes up, she steps forward, and this time they collidehead-on. And since they were already close, a more accurate description wouldbe that they hug. Sort of.

Their cheeks touch when they both quickly step back. Peter’spretty sure he’s doing Thor’s party trick now, vibrating all over aselectricity runs through him. MJ’s face might be pink, but he’s too overwhelmedto give it more than a glimpse. Sitting. Sitting will be better. You can’t runinto someone when you’re nestled into a couch cushion. He coaches himself tobreathe. Naturally, he does it out loud by accident, but very quietly.

MJ heads to the far end of the couch and shrugs off herjacket. Ok, good news and bad news. Good: she’s protecting his sanity byleaving several feet between them. Bad: he forgot to offer to hang up herjacket when she came in.

Then she drops her jacket onto the end seat and sits on thecenter one, so Peter’s flustered all over again. What’s he going to do now? Siton the table? The floor? The ceiling? Haha No, that would give away hissuperpowers.

But, seriously, is the ceiling an option?

And he does have to choose one, because he’s still standingthere, watching MJ’s sweater slide momentarily off her shoulder as she getscomfortable on his (May’s) couch in his (May’s) living room and realizing thatMJ might not be a Ned-person at all. It’s actually looking more and more likeshe’s an MJ, his one and only MJ, and that he’s invited her into a situationthat is rapidly sharpening in focus to appear like a date.

He sits next to her, trying to keep his trembling to himselfas his crush hits like an earthquake.

“What are we watching?” she asks, mouth half-full of whitecheddar popcorn from the bowl on the table.

Peter reflexively licks his own lip when he sees the palepowder on hers.

“Uh, it’s this really old horror movie. The Shining?” he checks, like she’s the one who picked it and hejust found out.

“Ok, cool.”

He should ask if she’s seen it and, if she has, offer topick something else, but MJ has lifted one foot off the floor to tuck her legbeneath her where she sits―thereby putting her folded leg nearer to where he sits. So, yep, it’s a miracle that hecan grip the handrail on one train of thought long enough to cue the movie upand press play.

Beyond a lot of creepy music and scenes with garish hotelfurniture that remind him of Wes Anderson movies, Peter doesn’t have much ideaof what’s happening on the screen. He has a few (thousand) more thoughts aboutwhat’s happening on this couch. Where to start? MJ’s leaned forward and back afew times, taking sips of her drink and returning it to the table, and ended upcloser to him every time. Their legs are officially touching now. Peter couldput a hand on her shoulder, give her a little nudge, and she would lean rightinto him. That’s based on physics, of course. Gravity and potential energy andthat kinda thing. Doesn’t mean MJ wouldn’t immediately brace herself and thenlook at him like Jack Torrance is not the only psycho in the Parker livingroom.

That’s what Michelle would do, as she existed to him beforeshe declared them friends. Peter sneaks a look at his MJ. Woops, he needs toquit calling her that in his head. She’s leaning slightly towards him (unevencouch cushions are probably to blame) and not looking 100% relaxed. Hissuper-senses let him hear her breathing very clearly and see, when his gazelowers, her chest rising and falling with a heartrate too quick to be at rest.

Duh. They’re watching a horror movie.

Peter exhales heavily. He wants to put his head in his handsand collect himself, but he can’t do that in front of her. Can’t be obviouslike that.

“There’s so much blood,” MJ comments, making him forget hisinner turmoil.

“Um, yeah. That’s super gross, actually.”

His face scrunches up as he watches, like, a swimming pool’sworth of gore rush out of a red elevator. Was somebody murdered in there? Petertrusts his guess on that one less than on the precise shade of brown in MJ’seyes. Just when he’s getting into the movie, starting to piece together thestory, distinguish present from flashbacks from supernatural visions, MJ shuddersnext to him. His head turns so fast.

“Are… are you ok?”

He’s nervous asking, not wanting to embarrass her. Peter hasnever see her disturbed or vulnerable. Even when he ran up to her inWashington, behind his Spider-Man mask, she didn’t look afraid for theirteammates stuck inside the Monument so much as determined that they should andwould be rescued. But if a wave of blood is what gets to her, that’s alright.It doesn’t make her weak.

MJ turns her head to look at him―not quite straight-on, butmore attentively than just a glance from the corner of her eye. She gives asmall smile and a shrug.

“It’s my first Stephen King movie.”

“I think, technically, it’s a Stanley Kubrick movie, sincehe’s the director.”

He feels so much relief when she rolls her eyes and callshim a dork. Then elation as MJ shifts towards him and slouches into his side.

“You want me to turn it off?” Peter asks.

Right away, he’s worried his words have implied that themovie should be stopped so they can transition to something more physical. Betweenthe two of them. In, like, a way that comes burdened with countless baseballmetaphors. He fears he’s created a ‘Netflix and chill’ atmosphere and feelsabjectly douchey.

“Nah,” MJ says and sighs. His eyes widen, feeling her exhaleagainst him. “I’m just gonna… I’ll just… Is it ok if I sit like this?”

Holy crap, she’s close. Peter nods as his mouth goes dry.Before he presses play again, he gradually raises his arm and tucks it aroundMJ’s shoulders. It only encourages her to snuggle (snuggle? Are theysnuggling?) more tightly against him.

Once again, even the most major events of the movie eludePeter, but the plot points of what’s happening between him and MJ are theeasiest story he’s ever followed. First, her head lowers down onto hisshoulder. Second, she reaches up to feel the arm he has around her and tanglesher fingers with his. Third is the twist. The bombshell. The surprise you don’tsee coming.

Because she mutters, “Watch out, Hallorann,” right beforethe bald chef guy (who Peter vaguely remembers from the beginning of the movie)takes an axe to the chest.

Almost robotically, Peter straightens up and tilts his headaway to give himself the distance to look at MJ. She’s gone very still besidehim and, though she’s nowhere near as easy to read as he knows he is, he cantell from her face that she’s constructing an excuse behind those warm browneyes. His mind’s moving fast now, leaving the realization that MJ’s seen thismovie before in the dust. That means she isn’t really afraid; if Peter knowsanything about her, it’s that she wouldn’t suffer through something thathonestly terrifies her in order to impress him. She wouldn’t do that foranyone. The only logical conclusion is that she wanted this outcome, himholding her.

Slowly, MJ gives Peter the closest to sheepish that he’sever seen on her face. Yeah, well, he’s already blown past the thought ofconfronting her. She’s laid out the beginning and the middle. He thinks he canmanage the ending.

Peter wraps a palm around her round cheek and kisses her. Shetastes like fizzy pomegranate. The second that he starts doing it, the factthat he is doing it shocks him, butby now MJ’s evidently working from his script. Her hands are warm on the backof his neck as she kisses him, not letting him panic and bail out. The mainthing the kiss tells him is that she’s been thinking about doing this sincelong before the movie started. He’s always known she’s better at planning, plusshe has that enigmatic wisdom that really throws him sometimes. Peter justdidn’t expect to be one of those plans. He starts to grin into the kiss at theidea of MJ considering him a wise decision.

She draws back with her eyebrows pulling together, assessinghis euphoric expression.

“Show some respect, nerd. A man has just been murdered.”

“He seemed like the kind of guy who’d take comfort inknowing we’re continuing to live our lives,” Peter argues, unable to shake hissmile.

“You were barely even watching. Don’t pretend like it taughtyou some life lesson.”

“It did though! It taught me that Ned cancelling on ourplans isn’t always a bad thing.”

MJ gives him a wry smirk.

“I guess you’re not completelywrong.”

“Wow, so in your book, kissing comes before cutting me someslack?” Peter grins.

“I save the slack-cutting for the second date,” she informshim.

“Second date, huh? Let’s have that one on purpose.”

As soon as Peter says it, MJ brings her mouthback to his and they have their second kiss on purpose too.

Pick a prompt for a Spideychelle drabble!

68 notes · View notes

ambcscarchives · 2 years

Video

fred-stankus-fin.mp4 from AMBCSC ARCHIVES on Vimeo.

Fred's Biography

Fred Stankus was born on October 27th, 1941 in Cicero, Illinois to a Catholic Lithuanian family. As a child he was an altar boy, but still very precocious. He was twelve years old when his mother died. After her death, Fred was supposed to move to Michigan, but he didn't want to. So instead, he hid and lived with his grandmother until he was a teenager, but she could not handle him.

Eventually, Fred did move to Michigan. He thrived there, lettering in four sports and was crowned as Prom King. After high school, he attended Central Michigan University, and when his funds ran out, he joined the Air Force.

Fred became an air traffic controller and was stationed in Hawaii. He was threatened with demotion after altering an ID card, but was saved by a letter of commendation from the Secretary of Defense for his handling of a situation with Air Force One. He then traveled all over Asia playing baseball with the Air Force.

When Fred got out of the Air Force and lived in San Francisco, he received two letters to try out for both the Chicago Cubs and a Detroit baseball team. But he decided not to go because he was having too much fun being a barker at a nightclub and working for the Federal Reserve Bank during the day.

At one point, Fred and one of his Air Force buddies bought a sailboat so they could sail to Alaska and work. They left from Newport Beach, but neither of them had experience sailing, and Fred nearly drowned. Their boat was confiscated in Santa Barbara. In the 1960s, Fred became a seeker of God and read many mystics and sages. This led him to Avatar Meher Baba, whom he followed for the rest of his life. He went to India at least eighteen times.

While he was living in San Francisco, Fred adopted a dog named Gatsby. Together they moved to New York, where Fred worked as an air traffic controller and hosted a Meher Baba radio program. They also moved together to Puerto Rico and Los Angeles, and Fred later named several of his dogs Gatsby.

When he first came to Los Angeles, Fred lived in his Volkswagen Bus. Re answered an add for telemarketing with a sports team, which led to a seventeen-year-long career with the Los Angeles teams the Lakers, the Kings, and the Sparks.

A Baba Lover who was dying of AIDS told his mother from his deathbed that he would love to shake the hand of Lakers basketball legend Magic Johnson. He was very moved when Magic came out publicly about his HIV status. After this man died, Fred arranged for his mother to meet Magic and shake his hand on his behalf.

Fred took acting classes at The Groundlings in Los Angeles and appeared in several plays. His talent as a performer came through when he sang the “Manonash Calypso” and performed as Ed McMaya at LA Sahavas events.

He worked for LifeSourceWater Systems, a water filtration company, for over eighteen years. As part of his job, he would talk to clients in their homes and would often mention Meher Baba, giving out countless cards and books. Even when he was suffering in the hospital, he would give out Baba cards to anyone who would listen.

Fred met his wife Gisela “Gigi” Driessen in Santa Monica at a party hosted by Lois Jones in the early 1980s. He was doing the limbo when Gigi pinched his butt! At one point, Bhau Kalchuri, one of Meher Baba’s Mandali - close disciples - told Gigi to keep Fred under control, which she said was a daunting task. Gigi and Fred were together for nearly forty years, and she said it was never boring or dull.

Fred had a big heart, a youthful demeanor, and would help those in need. He was a tireless worker for Meher Baba, hosting a television program, gutta breakfasts, toddy shops, and being actively involved in the LA Baba Center and Meher Mount.

0 notes

imjustthemechanic · 6 years

Photo

Natalie Jones and the Golden Ship

Part 1/? - A Meeting at the Palace Part 2/? - Curry Talk Part 3/? - Princess Sitamun Part 4/? - Not At Rest Part 5/? - Dead Men Tell no Tales Part 6/? - Sitamun Rises Again Part 7/? - The Curse of Madame Desrosiers Part 8/? - Sabotage at Guedelon Part 9/? - A Miracle Part 10/? - Desrosiers’ Elixir Part 11/? - Athens in October Part 12/? - The Man in Black Part 13/? - Mr. Neustadt Part 14/? - The Other Side of the Story Part 15/? - A Favour Part 16/? - A Knock on the Window Part 17/? - Sir Stephen and Buckeye Part 18/? - Books of Alchemy Part 19/? - The Answers Part 20/? - A Gift Left Behind Part 21/? - Santorini Part 22/? - What the Doves Found Part 23/? - A Thief in the Night Part 24/? - Healing Part 25/? - Newton’s Code Part 26/? - Montenegro Part 27/? - The Lost Relic Part 28/? - The Homunculinus Part 29/? - The End is Near Part 30/? - The Face of Evil Part 31/? - The Morning After Part 32/? - Next Stop Part 33/? - A Sighting in Messina Part 34/? - Taormina

They finally catch up with Madame Desrosiers, and she has something surprising to say.

As they rumbled along the road to Taormina, Sir Stephen refused to let his argument against archaeology go. “For another thing,” he went on, “the people and places you go to see did not ask to be objects of wonder. Your Princess Sitamun, from what I have read of the Egyptians, hoped to have her funerary temple tended while her body and its sarcophagus rested undisturbed. Or think of the villages we saw on the island of Santorini. The people living there do nothing but serve the needs of visitors. They have no industries of their own – I heard a woman tell her tour group that even water must be brought in, for there is none native to the island.”

“Pilgrimage towns were the same,” said Nat. “During the high middle ages, tourism was almost the only industry in Santiago de Compostela.”

“But the people there were doing God’s work,” Sir Stephen said. “And the relics of Saint James were meant to be seen, so that they could perform their miracles. Saint James himself, were he able to watch, would be pleased. Could you say the same thing of the Egyptians?”

Natasha just sighed. They’d had this argument a dozen times before and they would doubtless have it again. Sir Stephen just didn’t like digging up the dead.

“You can’t speak for them,” Jim spoke up. “You’re not an ancient Egyptian. You only know what you think.”

“I think I have a better understanding of the peoples of old than any of you,” said Sir Stephen, in a voice that rejected the entire twenty-first century.

“Princess Sitamun lived nearly three thousand years ago,” said Natasha. “You were born nearly a thousand years ago, but that’s still closer to now than it was to her. Even if it wasn’t, two millennia is such a long time, I don’t think it matters. None of us know what the ancient Egyptians would have thought of us.”

“Then none of us should presume to speak for them,” said Sir Stephen.

“Let it go,” said Sharon, patting his arm. “You won’t convince them and they won’t convince you. Personally, I think the Egyptians don’t care, because they’re dead.”

Mount Etna itself had not been visible from Messina, only its towering column of cloud. As they got closer, with dusk closing in, the volcano itself emerged from among the hills, taller than all of them and with its peak shrouded in mist lit eerily red from within. The town of Taormina below it was a tiny place among a dozen similar tourist towns that looked down on the beach. It was all arranged along one narrow, meandering medieval street behind a city wall, where shops sold everything from cheesy souvenir magnets and keychains to expensive designer jewelry, beach gear to hand-made marionettes and everything in between.

With the volcano currently putting on such a show, the population of the little town had swollen to capacity and beyond. Not only was the main street full of shoppers, diners, and people enjoying various entertainments, roofs and balconies were covered with people, many of them with binoculars to view the mountain peak. The whole place felt like it was having a party… but there was also an undercurrent of something much more ominous. In particular, there were signs set up at the sides of the roads to direct people who were evacuating from higher up the slopes.

The six members of the CAAP and Jim made their way through the crowds of tourists, locals, and intermittent stray dogs to the Hotel Isabella. Like the Europa Palace in Messina, this one had four stars, but as rather unprepossessing from the outside. Its façade was a narrow stone building with an arched door, wedged in between a place selling football merchandise and another offering designer purses. Nat went to the front desk, and asked if Mrs. Desrosiers were there.

“You missed her,” the clerk, a balding man wizened from a lifetime in the sun, replied. It had become a depressingly familiar phrase, but what followed gave Nat renewed hope. “Only by about ten or fifteen minutes, though – she met a friend and they went out for supper. I don’t know when they’ll be back, but we have a bar if you’d like to wait for her.”

“What friend?” asked Natasha. He couldn’t mean Newton, could he? Every indication thad been that the two alchemists despised one another. If it weren’t Newton, though, that suggested there was a third person involved here and that was the last thing they needed. “Was it a German, with long white hair and a very ugly hat?”

“It was an older man,” the clerk said, “but I didn’t hear his voice enough to know if he were German.”

Newton was far from being history’s only famous alchemist. Desrosiers had said her husband was dead, but history and legend were full of characters like Paracelsus or Agricola who, if alchemy were a real thing, might well be still around causing trouble. That was a depressing thought, and it was mainly on that account that Nat decided to stick to believing Desrosiers’ friend was Newton until she saw evidence to the contrary.

“We’re gonna have to split up and search again,” she told her companions. “If we’re only a few minutes behind her, we can’t lose the opportunity.”

“Somebody’s gonna need to stay here in case she comes back,” said Allen.

“Then you do that,” Nat told him. “The rest of us will have to search the nearby restaurants.” Unlike in Kotor and Santorini, most of the restaurants in Taormina were indoors, rather than spilling out into the streets. There simply wasn’t room for them here. That would slow them down considerably.

Sharon and Sir Stephen went together, of course, as did Sam and Clint, who seemed to have bonded in mutual mistrust of Jim. That left Jim himself with Natasha – and that, she realized, meant they were going to have to talk about their sexual dalliance and what the rest of the group thought of it. Nat would definitely pass on what Allen had told her, but she wondered whether Jim would believe her. Would he think she was just sparing his feelings?

Sure enough, once they were away from the others, Jim brought it up almost immediately.

“I think I need to apologize,” he said. “I didn’t realize they were gonna be so… it was selfish of me to ask you, and…”

“Don’t,” said Nat. “I can’t take any more apologies. You asked my permission, I gave it to you, we both enjoyed it, and they don’t care as much as it looked like. I talked to Dad about it.”

It seemed he did believe the explanation when she passed it on, because he looked relieved. “That’s… still really awkward. But I wouldn’t want your colleagues to think less of you.”

“Oh, they wouldn’t,” said Nat. “Trust me, I wouldn’t let them.”

Jim had to smile a little at that. “I believe you.”

Meanwhile, Natasha had realized that the two of them were clearly marching down the street with a purpose – they were not blending in. “We look too much like we’re on a mission,” she said. “Slow down, and put an arm around me.”

Jim laughed.

“Seriously,” she gave him a poke.

“Just for the mission, huh?” asked Jim. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in, until their hips touched. “Wouldn’t want to stand out.”

Nat smiled, too – she could have stopped herself, but right now it could be part of their act. She rarely got to enjoy this kind of closeness. Allen hugged her, but there was still a level on which he had to love her because he was, in whatever sense the word was meaningful, her father. It was possible to argue that Jim didn’t have much choice, either. He had no family or friends of his own, so if he needed human contact, his options to get it were extremely limited.

Yet at the same time… this was nice. Maybe the honesty had something to do with it. As Natasha had noted earlier, she rarely got to be honest with people. Allen encouraged her to be honest no matter how terrible the truth might be, and yet she rarely did, just because she was afraid of hurting him with it. Now, here she was and here was Jim, and they were both whatever they were. If either of them had wanted to get close to anybody else, they would have had to lie about it, but not with each other.

Nat’s phone buzzed. She stopped and pulled it out, and found a text message from Sharon.

We’ve got Desrosiers, it said. She’s alone at the sushi place above the bus parking.

On our way, Nat texted back. “Looks like we have to turn around,” she told Jim.

“Yeah, I saw,” he said. “Does this mean we stop blending in?”

“Of course not,” Nat said, and patted his hand on her hip, indicating she wanted it to stay right there.

Just outside the city gate, next to the self-consciously spectacular Excelsior Palace Hotel, was a very tiny mobile midway consisting of a merry-go-round and a bouncy castle in a car park. Just beyond those was a petrol station with a row of bank machines and a couple of elevators to go down to the parking garage below. Beside that was a little restaurant serving sushi and antipasto on a balcony overlooking the bay, and Madame Desrosiers was sitting there as if waiting for somebody.

She was, as always, flawlessly dressed in a flowing gray dress and very tall heels, with a tortoiseshell comb in her hair. She was sipping at a glass of water while staring out across the water at the lights on the Calabrian coast. Every so often, she would glance at her watch, but she kept her back to them at all times, which Natasha thought was suspicious in itself. If she were really expecting somebody, she ought to be facing the car park so she could see them coming.

Natasha approached. The others, who’d been waiting for her, Jim, and Allen to join them, followed her. When she got close to Desrosiers’ table, the woman looked up and said, “oh, it’s you again.”

“You say that as if you haven’t been sitting here for half an hour waiting for us,” said Nat.

Desrosiers sighed. “Very well, sit down,” she said. “I was worried I’d made it too difficult for you to find me, but I thought if I made it easy you’d get suspicious.”

“You’re right,” Nat said. “Right now I’m extremely suspicious.”

They arranged themselves around her. Natasha, Jim, and Sir Stephen sat with Madame Desrosiers, the other four at the table next to them. Nat did notice that although her back was to the door, Desrosiers was also sitting closest to it, with the least furniture in the way.

She didn’t try to run immediately, though. Instead, she looked at Jim and nodded. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Fine so far,” he replied. “I’d like to stay that way.”

Desrosiers shook her head. “There’s not much to be done for that. You can only continue to exist by being regularly replenished – and even then, you won’t change the way a human being would. You won’t get older, your hair won’t grow… you will look the way you do now for however long you last.”

Jim looked crushed. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?” he asked.

“Because you were already upset,” Desrosiers said.

He must feel like yet another bit of humanity had been stolen from him, Natasha thought. She felt sorry for him – and yet they had to stick to the point and learn as much as they could before Desrosiers ran off again. “Why did you want to meet us?” Nat asked. “Was it to give Jim more doses?” If it were only that, she would be… delighted on one level, deeply disappointed on another.

“No. The rest is at home in my workshop and I can’t spare it on short notice,” said Desrosiers. “I’m here to ask a favour. You have Neustadt’s notebooks. That’s why you went to Santorini, isn’t it? I need them.”

#fanfic #natasha romanov #steve rogers #bucky barnes #sharon carter #sam wilson #clint barton

3 notes · View notes

papermoonloveslucy · 6 years

Text

HEDDA HOPPER’S HOLLYWOOD

January 10, 1960

Directed by William Corrigan

Written by Sumner Locke Elliott

Original Music by Axel Stordahl

Hedda Hopper (1885-1966) was born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. She was one of Hollywood's most powerful and influential columnists. She appeared on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” Among her hundreds of films as an actress, she did two with Lucille Ball: Bunker Bean (1936) and That's Right – You're Wrong (1939). Hopper was best known for her flamboyant hats. She was also a well known conservative, Republican, and staunch supporter of blacklisting suspected communists. In films and television, Hedda Hopper has been portrayed by such actors as Fiona Shaw (RKO 281), Jane Alexander (Malice in Wonderland), Katherine Helmond (Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story), Helen Mirren (Trumbo), Tilda Swinton (Hail, Caesar!), and Judy Davis (“Feud”), to name a few.

Special Appearances By (in alphabetical order)

Jerry Antes (uncredited) was an actor with the Desilu Workshop who also appeared with Lucille Ball and Hedda Hopper on the Christmas Day 1959 “Desilu Revue” presented as part of the “Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.”

Lucille Ball (1911-89) was finishing her run as Lucy Ricardo with the final episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” airing in April 1960. She announced that she was divorcing Desi that very month.

John Barrymore (uncredited, archival footage)

Anne Bauchens (1882-1967) was Cecil B. DeMille's film editor for forty years. She won an Oscar in 1941. Bauchens edited Reap the Wild Wind (1943) and played herself in Sunset Boulevard (1950), just as Hopper did.

Stephen Boyd (1931-77) was an Irish-born actor best known for Ben Hur (1959), which won him a Golden Globe Award in 1960. In 1966 he played the leading role in The Oscar, which featured Hedda Hopper as herself.

Francis X. Bushman (1883-1966) was a silent film actor who received an honorary Golden Globe in 1960 as well as getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Coincidentally, Bushman played the same role as Stephen Boyd in the 1925 silent version of Ben Hur. Even more coincidental, Bushman was mentioned as Mrs. McGillicuddy's favorite movie stars in the same “I Love Lucy” episode that starred Hedda Hopper!

John Cassavetes (1929-89) was an actor and director who was then starring in the series “Johnny Staccato.” Later in his career, he was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Gary Cooper (1901-61) co-starred with Hedda Hopper in the 1927 films Wings and Children of Divorce, as well as the 1930 film The Stolen Jools. In 1942 he was featured in the third newsreel version of this TV special. In “Lucy Meets Harpo Marx” (1955) Lucy Ricardo dressed up in a Gary Cooper mask to fool her nearsighted friend Caroline Appleby. His name was also mentioned in two other episodes of “I Love Lucy.”

Ricardo Cortez (1900-77) was an actor / director who (like Bushman) got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. His final appearance was an episode of “Bonanza” which aired a week before this special.

Robert Cummings (1910-90) appeared on television with Hopper in “The Colgate Comedy Hour” (1955) and “Disneyland '59”, a celebration of the park's fifth anniversary. Cummings guest-starred in “The Ricardos Go To Japan” (1959, above) and on two episodes of “Here's Lucy.”

William H. Daniels (1901-70) was cameraman for 24 out of 26 of Greta Garbo's films.

Georgine Darcy (uncredited) was an actor with the Desilu Workshop who also appeared with Lucille Ball and Hedda Hopper on the Christmas Day 1959 “Desilu Revue” presented as part of the “Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.”

Marion Davies (1897-1961) acted with Hopper in 1925's Zander the Great. This TV special marked the first filmed appearance by Davies since she had retired from the screen in 1937. It was also her last.

Walt Disney (1901-66) is the founder of Disney Motion Pictures and the Disney theme parks. He appeared on television with Hopper (and Bob Cummings) on “The Colgate Comedy Hour” (1955) and “Disneyland '59”, a celebration of the park's fifth anniversary. In 1956 he was on “The Ed Sullivan Show” with Lucille Ball.

Janet Gaynor (1906-84) won an Oscar in 1929. Between 1925 and 1930 she was in four films with Hedda Hopper. She was part of the group of 1960 recipients of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Bob Hope (1903-2003) and Hedda Hopper first worked together in the film Thanks for the Memory (1938), the title tune of which became Hope's theme song for the rest of his career. In addition, they were together in “Hedda Hopper's Hollywood #4” (1942), “The Colgate Comedy Hour” (1955), three episodes of “The Bob Hope Show” and the film The Oscar in 1966. Hope and Lucille Ball did four films together as well as episodes of both Lucy and Bob's television shows.

Hope Lange (1933-2003) appeared in a 1957 episode of “Playhouse 90” hosted by Hedda Hopper. She was nominated for an Oscar in 1958 for Peyton Place.

Mario Lanza (uncredited / voice only)

Harold Lloyd (1893-1971) was considered one of the great silent film clowns of film history. He directed Lucille Ball in A Girl, A Guy, and a Gob in 1943.

Harold Lloyd Jr. (uncredited) was the only son of Harold Lloyd. He died after a massive stroke at age 34.

Suzanne Lloyd (uncredited) is the granddaughter of Harold Lloyd. She became a film producer nominated for a primetime Emmy.

Jody McRea (1934-2009) was the son of actor Joel McRea. He was most famous for his work in beach party movies.

Liza Minnelli (born 1946) was the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, who directed Lucille Ball in The Long, Long Trailer. In the 1970s, she dated Lucille Ball's son, Desi Jr. She won an Oscar in 1973 for Cabaret. She was just 14 years old when this special was filmed.

Don Murray (born 1929) appeared with Hope Lang (his then wife) on Hedda Hopper's “Playhouse 90” in 1957, the same year he earned an Oscar nomination in 1957 for Bus Stop, also starring Lange.

Ramon Navarro (1899-1968) was a Mexican-born actor who appeared with Francis X. Bushman and Stephen Boyd in the 1925 silent version of Ben-Hur. He also acted with Hedda Hopper in The Barbarian (1933). Along with Bushman, Navarro was mentioned as one of Mrs. McGillicuddy's favorite movie stars in the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Hedda Hopper Story” (ILL S4;E20).

Anthony Perkins (1932-92) is probably best remembered as Norman Bates in Hitchcock's Psycho (1960).

Tyrone Power (uncredited / voice only)

Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016) is best remembered for the musicals Singing in the Rain (1952) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964). Reynolds and Hedda Hopper both played themselves in the 1960 film Pepe. Lucille Ball and Reynolds appeared on talk and awards shows together. Her photograph was prominently seen on the cover of a movie magazine read by Lucy Ricardo on “I Love Lucy,” although her name was not spoken. Ironically, Hedda Hopper’s chief rival Louella Parsons is mentioned on the same cover!

Teddy Rooney (1950-2016) was the son of Mickey Rooney and Martha Vickers. In 1960 he did a number of television shows and films. He is the youngest participant in this special at age 10.

Venetia Stevenson (born 1938) is a British-born starlet whose career ended just one year after this special.

James Stewart (1908-97) was one of Hollywood's most treasured actors. He was an Oscar winner who was nominated again in 1960. Stewart and his wife Gloria were friends and neighbors of Lucille Ball's. He appeared on shows tributing Ball such as “All-Star Party for Lucille Ball” (1984) and “CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years” (1976). Celebrity voice artist Rich Little imitated Stewart on an episode of “Here's Lucy.”

Gloria Stewart (uncredited) was married to James Stewart in 1949.They had twin daughters, Judy and Kelly. Gloria also had two boys from her first marriage, Ronald and Michael McLean. Stewart starred in Roman Scandals (1933) which featured a young Lucille Ball. She later became famous again for appearing in James Cameron’s Titanic (1997).

Gloria Swanson (1899-1993) was a silent film star whose career managed to transition to talkies, something typified in the 1951 film Sunset Boulevard, which earned her a third Oscar nomination. Hedda Hopper played herself in the film.

King Vidor (1894-1982) was a film director who directed Hedda Hopper in the 1924 silent film Happiness.

Perc Westmore (1904-70) did make-up for The Life of Emile Zola (1937) and The Virgin Queen (1955). He made up Hedda Hopper on the 1932 film The Man Who Played God and did Lucille Ball's make-up for The Big Street (1942).

Bud Westmore (1918-73) did make up for Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948) and Man of a Thousand Faces (1957). He did make-up for “The Jack Benny Show” when Lucille Ball appeared in 1964.

Wally Westmore (1906-73) did make-up for Barbara Stanwyck in The Great Man's Lady (1943). He also did make-up for Lucille Ball's films Sorrowful Jones (1949) and Fancy Pants (1950), as well as a 1968 episode of “The Lucy Show.” He also did make-up for four films starring Hedda Hopper.

Frank Westmore (1923-85) claims he put hair on Yul Brynner. It was for the 1958 film The Buccaneer.

In 1938, actress Hedda Hopper was given a chance to write a gossip column for the LA Times. It was called “Hedda Hopper's Hollywood.”

This also the title given to a series of six 9 or 10-minute documentary short films that accompanied feature films from December 1941 to October 1942.

In the second entry, Desi Arnaz was seen at the Mocambo. Although Lucy was mentioned, she didn't get any camera time.

The title was also given to a 1964 episode of “The Beverley Hillbillies” which featured Hopper playing herself.

In 2011, author Jennifer Frost used the title for her book Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood: Celebrity Gossip and American Conservatism.

Throughout the hour-long special, Hopper is never in the same frame with the celebrities. Rather she introduces 'talking heads' segments and uses voice-over narration to link them together.

The special was presented as part of NBC's “Sunday Showcase” (1959-1960), an anthology series of specials. In 1959 the series presented a “The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special” which featured Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, visiting Las Vegas. It was only one of two times Lucille Ball played Lucy Ricardo on NBC, rather than CBS. Their presentation of "The Sacco-Vanzetti Story" earned a 1961 Emmy nomination for Program of the Year. Richard Adler composed the opening theme music, titled "Sunday Drive."

The special opens with Hedda Hopper wearing one of her trademark big hats, strands of pearls and a fur stole, sitting on a scenic layby overlooking Hollywood in the valley below.

Hedda: “This is a story of my town. There's no town like it on the face of the earth. Because it's business is make-believe. And for over fifty years the people in this town have been getting up and going to work to to to tell the world a story. Down in that valley, some of them are busy crowning an emperor and some others are fighting the Civil War again. Somewhere else a band of cattle thieves are shooting it out with the sheriff's posse and two people who only met this morning are being married in front of an army of cameramen and crew for this – is Hollywood.”

Hopper says she's been in Hollywood for 21 years.

The scenes switches to a studio gate where Lucille Ball drives up. This is Desilu, formerly RKO, where Lucille Ball got her start. After phenomenal success on television, she and husband Desi Arnaz eventually bought the studios. The car stops in front of the Desilu Workshop, which Lucy says was inspired by the RKO workshops she attended as a young contract player, conducted by Ginger Rogers' mother, Lela. Lucy calls out to a few of the students waiting for her – Jerry [Antes] and Georgine [Darcy]. At the time, the group was preparing for a TV variety show to be broadcast on Christmas Day 1959 as part of “The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse,” the same anthology series that would present the very last “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” episode just four months later, bringing the end to an era. In return for this appearance, Hopper made a brief appearance as herself in the show, titled “The Desilu Revue.”

Lucy (about the Desilu Workshops): “We have paid audiences, because I feel a paid audience is a more demanding audience.”

Lucille Ball is also just weeks away from formally divorcing husband Desi Arnaz. Lucy talks about the special in the past tense as the special will air a week after the Workshop.

Getting into a golf cart, Lucy says she is on her way to “The Untouchables” set, where Nick Georgiadi is a series regular, and also a member of the workshop. She says she also has to visit stage 3 where Ann Sothern is rehearsing in order to convince her to use some of her workshop students. Sothern, a great friend of Ball's, was filming “The Ann Sothern Show.” Finally, Lucy says she has to check on some costumes at wardrobe.

Bob Cummings sits on a sound stage telling the story of how he was discouraged from pursuing an acting career. Despite this he got an opportunity that turned into the film Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939). While filming this story for Hedda Hopper, his second TV series “The Bob Cummings Show” had just finished a five season run on CBS. A year earlier, he guest-starred in “The Ricardo’s Go To Japan”, a 1959 installment of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”

On another stage (actually the same set, slightly redressed), Anthony Perkins talks about young actors trying to carve a unique niche in Hollywood.

Four (of the six) Westmore Brothers, make-up artists from the Westmore dynasty, sit in front of a dressing room mirror. Perc, Wally, Bud, and Frank all reveal one of their famous make-up credits.

The scene shifts to the western street of a back lot. Jody McRae sidles up to disclose that he's working with his father (Joel McRae) on a series called “Wichita Town” (1959-60). Unfortunately for father and son, the series was canceled after just one season.

Inside a western street saloon sits Gary Cooper, who says his first talking picture was The Virginian (1929). The show assumes that viewers know who he is on sight, so Cooper does not introduce himself, nor does Hopper's voice-over. Cooper says some of his favorite films were The Pride of the Yankees (1942), Sergeant York (1941), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), and High Noon (1952).

Cooper: “We used to wonder when the Western story material would peter out. Seems like it never will.”

In 1960, that may have seemed true, but by the mid-1970s the Western genre had gone out of fashion on screens big and small.

Cooper ends his segment with his trademark “yep” something he memorably did in the 1949 Warner Brothers picture It’s a Great Feeling. Hopper's voice over says that one of the best westerns he did was The Plainsman (1936), directed by Cecil B. DeMille. This leads to a visit to DeMille's library where we he planned “the dividing of the red sea” - a reference to The Ten Commandments (1956). We are introduced to his editor Anne Bauchens. DeMille died just one year before this program was filmed.

Hopper (voice): “Spectacle was Hollywood's cup of tea. From the San Francisco earthquake to William Wyler's chariot race.”

Hopper is referring to the films San Francisco (1936) and Ben-Hur (1959). At a table at The Brown Derby (actually a reasonable facsimile), Stephen Boyd, Ramon Navarro, and Francis X. Bushman discuss the spectacle of shooting chariot races in both the 1925 and 1959 films of Ben-Hur.

Bushman is strategically positioned sitting in front of a line drawing of Hedda Hopper. Both “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show” set scenes at The Brown Derby. After their stories, the camera pans over to the next booth, where Hedda Hopper is sitting, listening. She is positioned in front of a line drawing of Mickey Rooney.

Hopper: “Thirty five years has passed between the first Ben-Hur and the one you're seeing today. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if they made another Ben-Hur sometime.”

Hopper's prediction came true in 2016 – 56 years later - when a brand new Ben-Hur was released starring Jack Huston as the title character.

Hopper (in front of her home): “You know, every morning when I go to work, I thank the good Lord I'm still alive. Like everybody else in this town I go to work and come home at night. There are many kinds of homes in Hollywood. This is mine. I bought it 17 years ago, and oh, I love it. I hope to go on living in it for the rest of my life.”

Paparazzi-style film captures Jimmy and Gloria Stewart leaving their homes and getting into the family car to go to out on a Sunday afternoon.

Next, the camera goes inside the home of Hope Lange and Don Murray, who is putting on a puppet show for their two children, Christopher and Patricia. Their marriage broke up the following year.

The camera takes the long trip up the driveway of the Greenacres, the palatial home of Harold Lloyd. The silent film star strolls out onto the portico with his son Harold Jr. and his granddaughter Suzanne (by his daughter Gloria) to wave for cameras. Hopper's voice over describes some of the home's charity events and parties with famous silent film stars.

Lloyd's wife, Marion Davies, dressed to the nines, says a few words of welcome. It marked her final filmed appearance. Davies was fighting cancer when she appeared on this show. It was her final film appearance.

Hopper: “Yes, there are still many great houses that belong to the glorious gilded days – before income tax.”

From real Hollywood homes, we are now on the back lot at MGM where the homes were used in the filming of Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) starring Judy Garland.

Ten year-old Teddy Rooney (son of Mickey Rooney) is discovered on Carville Street, where the Andy Hardy pictures were made by his father. Teddy says he is about to start shooting his first television series “Man of the House.” The show co-starred his real life mother, Martha Vickers, but only a pilot episode was ever shot.

Hopper is found sitting in a box at the Paris Opera House set from the original 1925 film version of The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney. Hopper hears voices from the past like John Barrymore, Tyrone Power, and Mario Lanza. While Hopper is listening to the voices, director John Cassavetes appears on the stage to tell her that they will need the set to rehearse a scene from his series “Johnny Staccato.”

Producer King Vidor talks about location shooting taking over for back lots. Downsizing of background artists is also the way of the future.

Gloria Swanson talks about the way films have changed for audiences and actors.

Debbie Reynolds (in the same dressing room occupied by Swanson) tells us how busy she's been and how she craves to get away.

As an example of how young starlets conduct themselves today [1960] Venetia Stevenson drives onto the studio lot in a tiny sports car, casually dressed, grabs her script and runs into the soundstage. Right behind her is a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce. A maid gets out holding a puppy wearing a huge bow. Hedda Hopper steps out of the car, bedecked in jewels and furs. “This is the way they used to do it!” The maid holds the train on Hopper's gown as she heads into the soundstage.

Hedda Hopper (without her trademark hat) says that only one person has the right to be called a Hollywood legend: Greta Garbo. Hopper shows still photos of Garbo in Anna Karenina (1935), Mata Hari (1931), Queen Christina (1933), and Camille (1936). Hopper played Garbo's sister in As You Desire Me (1932) and says that the reclusive star briefly let down her guard with her to reveal a warm and intelligent person.

William Daniels, Garbo's cameraman on 24 of her 26 pictures, says he hopes that she will return to the screen someday, to let a new generation appreciate her beauty and talent. Her last film before going into self-imposed retirement was in 1941. Hopper tells of Garbo's first (silent) picture, The Torrent (1926), where her leading man was Ricardo Cortez.

Cortez (above) recalls that Garbo was sensitive and shy, but a hard worker.

Walt Disney talks about Mickey Mouse, the first mouse ever to win an Oscar. Disney shows a still of Mickey's premiere in Steamboat Willy (1928) for $1,200. To balance out Mickey, Disney created a more mischievous character, Donald Duck. From there, Disney was able to produce Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), their first feature length animated film. That first Mickey Mouse cartoon also led to Disneyland and their upcoming animated feature 101 Dalmatians (1961).

Sitting in a void, 14 year-old Liza Minnelli sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” a song her mother Judy Garland introduced in 1939's The Wizard of Oz.

Janet Gaynor talks about winning the very first Academy Award in 1928 for Seventh Heaven, Sunrise, and Street Angel. These were her first three roles. Ever since, it has only been given for one performance.

Standing amid a pile of suitcases, Bob Hope talks about Hollywood in general, presenting almost a monologue on the subject. He riffs on make-up artists and then starts to joke about the investigations surrounding the quiz show scandals, which came to a head in 1959.

Hope: “I think they're going too far with this honesty thing. The other night on 'Wells Fargo' the heavies held up the stagecoach and gave back all the money from the week before.”

Hope: “Hedda has a fabulous fund of Hollywood knowledge. She knows whose who, who's where, where's what, and how, when, and where there's going to be some hoo-hooing. Hedda's a listener in the largest party line in the world. She has to wear those big hats to keep the secrets from leaking out.”

Hope: “I think Hedda's gowns are very colorful tonight. She makes the NBC peacock look like a beatnik seagull.”

Although this program may have been filmed and aired in color (most “Sunday Showcase” episodes were), it only remains in monochrome kinescope copies.

Back on the scenic overlook as the sun sets, Hopper sums up her feelings about “her” town – Hollywood.

Lucy Ricardo and Hedda Hopper

In 1952's “The Gossip” (ILL S1;E24) Lucy calls Ricky and Fred “Hedda and Lolly” after hearing them indulge in gossip about the Tropicana hat check girl. Lolly refers to Hopper's chief competition, gossip columnist Louella Parsons. Ricky usually pronounced her name Hedda Hooper.

In 1955′s “The Hedda Hopper Story” (ILL S4;E20), Lucy comes up with an elaborate plan conspire to get into Hopper’s column and get some much-needed publicity for Ricky. Little do they know that Lucy's mother has invited her over for tea.

Ricky: “Mother, darling. Why didn't you tell us it was Hedda Hooper?” Mrs. McGillicuddy: “You didn't ask me!”

To kick off “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” a flashback to how Lucy and Ricky met was framed by an interview with Hedda Hopper in “Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana” (1957). Desi convinced the network to extend the show by fifteen minutes for this episode. As a result, Hedda Hopper's framing interview is usually cut for syndication. Here Ricky finally learns how to pronounce Hopper’s name. Unfortunately, the apple doesn’t fall far from the Latin-American tree: Little Ricky greets her by saying “How do you do, Miss Hepper!”

This date in Lucy History – January 10th

"California, Here We Come!" (ILL S4;E13) – January 10, 1955

"Lucy and Art Linkletter" (TLS S4;E16) – January 10, 1966

"Lucy and the Chinese Curse" (HL S4;E18) - January 10, 1972

9 notes · View notes

roadhousecoasters-blog · 6 years

Text

In the same breath that I told my sister I had quit my job, bought a bus and was going to hit the road on an indefinite adventure around Australia she told me she was pregnant. This was terrible timing considering that in the 32 years she’s been alive we had lived no more than 2 hours away from each other. Essex, Uni, London and Sydney, we had monthly meetings over a bottle of wine or 7. We always went big and we never remembered going home. Now she actually needed a big sister rather than a fellow white wine demon I was driving off into the sunset. But these things happen and we were both about to embark on our own, very different life adventures.

By the time Jot and I left Sydney at Christmas 2017 Aff was three months pregnant. I spent my days exploring the beaches of this beautiful country and my evenings knitting tiny squares of green, pink, yellow and white fluffy wool. I imagined the end result of a beautiful blanket that my niece or nephew would become inseparable from and be bullied at Uni for having on their bed in halls. “My Aunt Kate made it for me when she lived in a bus,” they’d say with pride and defiance tossing their thick ginger locks inherited from their parents.

When Emily Louise Jones was born on 18th of July 2017 in Sydney I was on the other side of the country in Perth. If you aren’t familiar with how bloody big Australia is you might be forgiven for thinking that’s a drive or a short flight away. Nothing in Australia is a short drive away, in particular that little trip which would take 41 hours of non stop driving at 100 kilometers an hour. Geography and logistics screwed us and poor Aff had no family visits while in the hospital with her newborn daughter and no extra help when they got her home.

6 weeks after Emily arrived Jot and I hopped on a red eye flight headed east to Sydney. A mere 5 hour flight later and my sister opened the door to her house holding her dark haired daughter Emily. My niece. I handled the situation like an adult and burst into tears. Once my contact lenses had stopped swimming in my eyes and a quick reminder from Mum on how to hold babies, I had the tiny human in my arms. I loved her immediately and stared at her trying to memorise her perfect little face. From my backpack came the presents that I’d been gathering for her over the last 6 months as I saw them at different markets and toy shops around the country. Then I gave Aff the blanket that I had been working on for the last half a year. The resulting “ohh’s” and “ahh’s” from my sister, mum and partner told me I had nailed the knitting malarky.

We spent the next week as an army of women looking after the little baby. At age 34 I had somehow never spent a lot of time with babies or children. In fact I think I could have counted my kid filled hours on one hand, since being one myself that is. But my intro to babies was enjoyable. The bouncing helped my step count and I enjoyed the smiles from strangers as I pushed the pram around Bondi. I changed my first nappy, and second and twentieth. My sister dressed Emily in pink baby grows and I changed her into yellow ones. For that too short amount of time my sister had the village they say it takes to care for a child. Then Jot and I had to get back to our travels, and Mum and Dad had to fly back to London.

That Christmas we all saw each other again as families do. This time Jot and I flew from Perth to London and The Jones’s made the 24 hour flight from Sydney to London. By now Emily was 5 months old and much more durable (if you can say that about a baby) so a lot less scary. I lived under the same roof as her for two weeks which was the best Christmas present ever. A few times I got up at 6 to take over from my sister and Emily, the non sleeping baby and I would hang out watching crime dramas on Netflix while the morning sun melted the frost outside and everyone else slept. On Boxing Day I wanted to show Emily the Galea tradition of a walk in the freezing cold (and reach my step count) so I bundled her into a snowsuit I wish came in my size, tied her to my chest and off we went into Epping Forest with Nana Jan in tow.

After Christmas was over and we all headed back to Australia, Jot and I hung out in Sydney to catch up with friends and get some more Emily time in. We showed her the Opera House and Bridge, we took her to an art gallery, we told her that we were really sorry that we lived so far away from her and promised we’d be there for all the big moments if we could be.

July came and in buslife we had made it to the east coast meaning we were about 3 quarters of the way around Australia. I turned 35 and a week later Emily was turning 1. Practically twins. Aff was throwing a first birthday for her to celebrate the fact that she and Dan had survived a year without sleep. As I was shopping for a train set for her birthday present I realised that this was one of the moments that I wanted to be there for. One of the big moments. So at short notice, as with we most things we do, Jot and I booked flights.

During the three days we were in Sydney, Emily and I spent a lot of time together. Naughty Auntie Kate even kept her home from daycare on Friday. I discovered that it isn’t possible to drink a take away coffee and push a pram at the same time. And that a one year old is unable to peel their own banana. We went shopping and she helped her Aunt Jot and I plan what we are going to wear for our upcoming wedding. She seemed like a pro at shopping so I suspect my sister has her in training as her tiny shopping buddy already.

Of course 1 year old Emily won’t know or remember that I was at her 1st birthday party. And I doubt that adult Emily will be that fussed. But it was important to me that I was there and it seemed to make my sister and brother-in-law Dan pretty happy. I have an awesome little niece and I can’t wait to step up as an Aunt and make more memories with her when we get back to Sydney.

The Absent Aunt In the same breath that I told my sister I had quit my job, bought a bus and was going to hit the road on an indefinite adventure around Australia she told me she was pregnant.

2 notes · View notes